Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, representing the Indonesian government, met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Investment Gan Kim Yong to expedite bilateral and regional cooperation in the digital economy. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 24th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.
During the meeting, they discussed strategic issues such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the Tech:X Pilot program, and Indonesia's intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Airlangga emphasized the need for pragmatic and innovative approaches to address differing levels of ambition, interests, and capacities among ASEAN members. The ASEAN DEFA negotiations, initiated during Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship last year, aim to be 50% complete by 2024 and substantially finished by 2025, potentially increasing ASEAN’s digital economy value to USD 2 trillion by 2030. Both ministers also discussed the Tech:X Pilot, a bilateral program launched during the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat, which facilitates the movement of technology professionals between the two countries. Singapore expressed support for Indonesia's interest in joining the CPTPP, viewing it as a complement to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in navigating regional geo-economic challenges.
