Jakarta, 2 December 2023: The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) hosted the ASEAN-ERIA DEFA Roundtable at the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC), on the sidelines of the 1st ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) Negotiating Committee meeting. The Roundtable saw deliberations on collaborative efforts and potential ERIA support for the DEFA negotiations on a range of issues, including digital trade, data governance, cybersecurity and digital inclusion. Participants included the DEFA Negotiating Committee, ERIA experts, and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.

Koji Hachiyama, ERIA Chief Operating Officer, underscored the collaborative ethos in his welcoming remarks, expressing the readiness of E-DISC as a knowledge partner in providing research and analytical and capacity building support both at the regional and national level, including country-specific approaches.

Participants discussed the challenges facing ASEAN member states in preparing for digital readiness, including regulatory issues, infrastructure development, connectivity, and reskilling. In-depth understanding of the implications of the DEFA core provisions as well as of emerging issues are critical to ensure a forward-looking and ambitious DEFA, whilst taking into account the differing levels of digital readiness of ASEAN member states. ERIA also took the opportunity to share progress and outcomes of a series of studies it has undertaken on the digital economy, data governance and other digital integration efforts in ASEAN and East Asia.

On behalf of the ASEAN DEFA Negotiating Committee, Prewprae Chumrum, the committee chair, affirmed the steadfast commitment of ASEAN to conclude the DEFA within the set timeline. She also expressed her appreciation for ERIA’s proactive engagement and looked forward to continued engagement in the future.

DEFA negotiations were launched at the 23rd ASEAN Economic Council (AEC) Meeting in September and completion is targeted by the end of 2025, based on the endorsed Framework for Negotiating the ASEAN DEFA. DEFA is expected to set the foundation for doubling the potential value of the ASEAN digital economy from $1 trillion to $2 trillion in 2030, according to a DEFA study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)[1]. Once concluded, the legally-binding DEFA will be the world's first region-wide digital economy agreement.

[1] Boston Consulting Group. (2023). Study on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.