Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delivered a video message at the ASEAN Quantum Summit 2025 on December 12, 2025. In his remarks, Dr. Kao noted that global investment in quantum technologies had surpassed USD 40 billion, with the market projected to grow from USD 1.3 billion in 2024 to nearly USD 10 billion by 2034. Quantum computing alone was expected to reach USD 20 billion by 2030, according to the ASEAN Secretariat’s published summary of his remarks.
Dr. Kao encouraged stronger commitment to research and development and called for alignment with the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026-2035 and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plans 2026-2030. He framed quantum technology development within ASEAN’s broader goal of building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready region.
The address represented the highest-level ASEAN institutional statement on quantum technology to date.