All ASEAN member countries have unanimously unveiled the Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA). The implementation process will commence in 2025.

Minister of Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, predicts that the presence of DEFA will enhance the ASEAN digital economy to USD 2 trillion or approximately Rp 30,374 trillion (at an exchange rate of Rp 15,187 per US dollar) by 2030.

"If DEFA is enforced in 2025, it will increase the potential of the ASEAN digital economy, which is business as usual, to USD 1 trillion. However, with the implementation of DEFA, it can increase to USD 2 trillion by 2030," Airlangga said at the St. Regis Hotel on Sunday (3/9).

Airlangga continued, there are nine issues regarding DEFA that will be addressed in the next two years. For instance, infrastructure readiness, human resources, the ecosystem in each ASEAN country, and retraining and reskilling.

"This regulation incorporates all agreements that have been made, including the RCEP and others, as the foundation, so that future changes due to AI transformation, blockchain, and others are already included in the scope that will be discussed within DEFA itself," he explained.

Through DEFA, all ASEAN member states have a comprehensive roadmap to empower businesses and stakeholders throughout ASEAN. DEFA is projected to be a method for accelerating trade growth, increasing interoperability, creating a secure online environment, and boosting SME participation.

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