Assessing the Impact of <scp>ICT</scp> on Export Performance: A Comparative Analysis of <scp>ASEAN</scp> ‐5 and Partner Countries

ABSTRACT The study examines the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on foreign trade in goods and services between ASEAN‐5 (Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia) and their trading partners. This research employs the System‐GMM estimation method to investigate the impacts of the ICT. The analysis is conducted using a panel dataset comprising of 5 exporting countries and 20 trading partner countries over the period of 2010–2023. ICT plays a crucial role in influencing the export performance of ASEAN‐5 countries overall, goods and services. First, various ICT variables have an impact on export. The fixed broadband subscriptions of ASEAN‐5 countries had a stronger positive effect on goods export compared to total export and services export. Moreover, the internet secure servers of importing countries only had a significantly influence on services export. Similarly, mobile cellular subscriptions of ASEAN‐5 countries showed a positive relationship with services export. Furthermore, mobile cellular subscriptions of trading partners had a more positive effect on total export and goods export than services export. Second, mobile cellular subscriptions and fixed broadband subscriptions had a stronger influence on export than internet secure servers. Finally, the individual regression estimation for each ASEAN‐5 member revealed that three ICT factors contributed to the increase in export volume in total, goods, and services between ASEAN‐5 countries and their trading partners. While ICT indicators had a stronger influence on export in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, they also had a significant and positive impact on export in Thailand and Vietnam. The research objective is to assess the impact of ICT application on ASEAN‐5 trade by measuring the influence of the ICT index on trade flows in goods and services. First, it analyses the differential impacts of ICT on total export, goods exports, and services exports of ASEAN‐5 to their trading partner countries. Second, it compares the differences in effects of total export, goods exports, and services exports between five ASEAN member countries. Finally, the study has important implications for the governments of Southeast Asian countries in proposing ICT development policies, contributing to international trade development and economic growth.