Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, November 13, 2026 at 01:22 PM UTC

Indonesia to sign ASEAN digital economy pact on Nov. 14 in Manila

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Bayu Saputra, Tegar Nurfitra

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and 10 fellow Southeast Asian nations are scheduled to sign the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) in Manila, the Philippines, on Nov. 14, 2026.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto will travel to the Philippine capital to sign the multilateral agreement, which will enter into force 180 days after all 11 ASEAN member states have signed it.

"The implementation of the agreement is expected to strengthen digital infrastructure, boost the quality of digital-sector human resources, accelerate MSME transformation, and support stronger cybersecurity regulations and data governance," he said in Jakarta on Friday.

He described the signing of the DEFA as a strategic step toward ensuring more inclusive and secure growth of the ASEAN digital economy, with benefits shared across communities in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia plans to establish a committee comprising several ministers to discuss the legal instruments required for ratifying the agreement after its signing.

The ratification process will take into account that the DEFA is intended to replace the ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce, which Indonesia ratified through Law No. 4 of 2021.

ASEAN launched negotiations on the agreement in 2023 under Indonesia's chairmanship, with the aim of harmonizing member states' policies to facilitate cross-border digital economic activities.

A study by Boston Consulting Group estimates that the ASEAN digital economy could double in value to US$2 trillion by 2030 if the DEFA is implemented comprehensively.

ASEAN member states are expected to benefit from the agreement through easier cross-border trade for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), greater interoperability among digital payment systems, and more streamlined electronic transactions.

The framework also aims to strengthen consumer protection and transaction security, support trusted cross-border data flows, and advance digital talent development and innovation across the region.

Indonesia's digital economy gross merchandise value was estimated at nearly US$100 billion in 2025, representing the highest year-on-year growth rate in Southeast Asia at 14 percent, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report.

Furthermore, Indonesia views the DEFA as aligned with its 2030 National Digital Economy Strategy and its ongoing accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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