RI pushes for concrete ASEAN digital economy agreement rollout
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia pushed for concrete implementation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) following its official signing by member states in Manila, the Philippines, on Saturday.
Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the next step is to accelerate the drafting of the DEFA Implementation Plan, while taking each member state’s domestic readiness into account.
"Indonesia supports expediting the ASEAN DEFA Implementation Plan by considering the domestic readiness of each country and ensuring alignment and consistency with the AEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030," Hartarto said.
Related news: Indonesia to sign ASEAN digital economy pact on Nov. 14 in Manila
During the 28th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting in Manila on Saturday, Airlangga highlighted the importance of addressing industry needs and engaging the private sector in the agreement's implementation.
According to him, strengthening the capacity of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is also essential to ensure DEFA delivers tangible benefits.
The signing of DEFA marks a major milestone in ASEAN’s digital economic integration following three years of negotiations since September 2023.
Beyond digital transformation, Indonesia also underscored the importance of strengthening regional economic resilience amid global uncertainty.
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To this end, Indonesia supports bolstering energy security and supply chain resilience as part of implementing the AEC Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
Indonesia also called for aligning the strategic plan's rollout with the work plans of ASEAN sectoral bodies to meet shared targets.
In 2026, ASEAN sectoral bodies set 391 Annual Milestone Deliverables (AMDs) as annual outputs to monitor progress in implementing the strategic plan. Of that total, 92 AMDs have been completed, 246 are in progress, and 53 have yet to begin.
"Indonesia also reaffirms its support for implementing the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, the Circular Economy Framework, and the Blue Economy Implementation Plan to fast-track the transition toward a green and sustainable economy," Hartarto remarked.
Related news: Airlangga says ASEAN DEFA could lift Indonesia's digital economy
Translator: Bayu Saputra, Raka Adji
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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