The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is set to be finalized in 2026, aligning with ASEAN's strategic initiative to enhance digital economic integration within the ASEAN region. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh stated that the DEFA aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework that will facilitate the integration between the ten ASEAN countries in the digital economy sector. Through the DEFA, ASEAN aims to establish a contemporary, comprehensive, and compatible digital infrastructure. Currently, DEFA negotiations are in progress, with efforts to finalize the agreement's substantive provisions underway. The target completion date for the agreement is September 2025.
DEFA will encompass all aspects of the digital economy, including digital payments, data centers, cybersecurity, digital identity, trade digitization, e-commerce, and the movement of skilled labor in the Southeast Asian region. The completion of DEFA is one of the tangible outcomes (deliverables) of the ASEAN 2045 Strategic Vision, which was agreed upon at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia in May 2025. The establishment of DEFA will transform the digital economy in the Southeast Asian region into an open ecosystem, attracting more investors and fostering business growth.
