Key Points
- ASEAN sets 180-day ratification target after DEFA signing, underscoring urgency to deliver digital economy benefits
- Indonesia expects DEFA to boost digital infrastructure, SMEs, human resources, and cybersecurity under its 2030 strategy
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - ASEAN member states aim to finalize the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) this year, following the consensus reached at the 27th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting in Cebu, Philippines.
“Our clear target is the signing of the DEFA agreement, which must be ready for implementation at the ASEAN Summit in November, after the legal scrubbing process and domestic consultations in each country,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, in Jakarta on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Minister Airlangga emphasized that the digital economy is evolving rapidly, requiring ASEAN to respond adaptively. “Although the DEFA text is not yet perfect, it must be finalized immediately, with periodic reviews based on developments in the digital economy,” he said.
Once signed, the ratification process in each member state is targeted to be completed within 180 days, a step considered crucial to accelerate the benefits of the digital economy across the region.
For Indonesia, the DEFA supports the National Digital Economy Strategy 2030 and the country’s OECD accession process. The agreement is expected to strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance human resources, accelerate SME transformation, and improve cybersecurity.
ASEAN first proposed the DEFA during Indonesia’s 2023 chairmanship. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the comprehensive implementation of the framework could double ASEAN’s digital economy value from USD 1 trillion to USD 2 trillion by 2030. ***
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