Indonesia Targets USD 600 Billion Digital Economy Through DEFA

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The ASEAN digital economy is projected to continue expanding, and Indonesia has the opportunity to secure a significant share through the implementation of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said DEFA could double the value of the ASEAN digital market from around USD 1 trillion to USD 2 trillion.

“For Indonesia, that would represent about 30 to 40 percent of the total, which would allow us to grow our digital economy to USD 600 billion,” Minister Airlangga said at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that this opportunity requires a strong digital ecosystem supported by green energy, data centers, and e-commerce platform development.

E‑commerce growth is increasingly strategic, as businesses are now using digital platforms not only for domestic transactions but also to market Indonesian products in export markets. This shift is expected to expand market access for national enterprises.

ASEAN governments are currently preparing DEFA for signing in November in Manila, the Philippines. Payment system integration is expected to be one of the initial benefits for member countries.

Indonesia already has the Quick Response Code Indonesia Standard (QRIS), which is accepted in five ASEAN countries. Minister Airlangga is pushing for wider adoption because the system can reduce transaction costs for businesses.

“When using QRIS, businesses benefit because there is no ‘merchant discount.’ So the cost to merchants is zero,” he said.

Cross‑border payment integration is expected to make it easier for MSMEs to transact with consumers across ASEAN and strengthen the use of digital platforms to support export activities.

Minister Airlangga also encouraged more Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to join the digital ecosystem, particularly those producing artisanal goods. This step is considered crucial for expanding market reach and increasing opportunities for local products to enter regional markets.

“This is an opportunity for the Minister of MSMEs (Maman Abdurrahman) to help more MSMEs go digital -- especially those producing artisanal products,” he added.