Robotic surgery offers several advanced capabilities that may overcome the limitations of conventional minimally invasive procedures. In Japan, we have demonstrated that robotic surgery can reduce postoperative complications and improve long-term outcomes by fully utilizing surgical robots based on appropriate surgical concepts. In 2018, robotic procedures including gastrectomy, esophagectomy, and rectal resection were covered by the universal health insurance, followed by pancreatic resection in 2020 and liver resection in 2022. Consequently, laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgeries are rapidly being replaced by robotic surgeries. However, globally, there is insufficient evidence regarding robotic surgery, with concerns about costs negatively impacting cost-effectiveness. Despite this, the number of robotic procedures is increasing rapidly, and new surgical robots are continuously entering the market. This session will share regional initiatives in robotic surgery within the field of gastrointestinal surgery and discuss the future directions of minimally invasive surgery across Asia.