ARTICLES

20 Mar 2024

Making AI Work for Food Security in ASEAN

Elyssa Kaur Ludher|Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Elyssa Ludher and Kristina Fong examine the contributions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to food security in ASEAN and the hurdles to its widespread adoption.

5 Mar 2024

Examining Indonesia’s Potential New Source of Growth: A Case for Digital Services Exports

Suryaputra Wijaksana|Maria Monica Wihardja

Digitally delivered services exports could be the silver lining, if not a silver bullet, in an increasingly challenging world for Indonesia’s economy, which is clouded by its stubborn growth deficit.

Digital Economy Framework Agreement Digitalisation Indonesia Indonesian Economy

27 Feb 2024

Thailand’s Public Sector Data Breaches Erode Public Trust – And Might Undermine E-Government

Surachanee Sriyai

Thailand’s negligence in addressing cybersecurity concerns in the public sector, and lack of accountability and transparency more broadly, can erode public trust — and undermine the future adoption of e-services.

Cyber Security Digitalisation Thailand

21 Feb 2024

The Potential and Prerequisites for ASEAN-Japan Cross-Border Digital Payments

Bryan Tan Jia Yang|Katrina Navallo

Bryan Tan Jia Yang and Katrina Navallo explore possibilities for a cross-border digital payment arrangement between ASEAN and Japan.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Japan

Visitors walking past the Silk Road E-commerce Pavilion

23 Jan 2024

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) in Southeast Asia: Progress and Challenges

Wang Zheng

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative has made significant strides in Southeast Asia. All countries in the region have received DSR investments, with Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia taking the lion’s share. However, China faces multiple challenges in pushing the DSR forward, including the growing tensions between the state and private tech companies domestically as well as intensifying US-China technological rivalry and risks of tech bifurcation.

China Digitalisation Southeast Asia Technology

12 Dec 2023

Aspiring High: Unlocking Southeast Asia’s Potential through the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement

Ming Tan|Maria Monica Wihardja

ASEAN can demonstrate to global stakeholders how digital integration is possible through cooperation. For DEFA to achieve its aspirations, it should be principle-based and impact-focused, learn and adopt existing digital provisions, and foster continuous innovation and inclusive growth.

ASEAN Digitalisation

27 Nov 2023

Digging Deeper with DEFA

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

As the first round of negotiations for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) approaches, Kristina Fong discusses critical aspects to consider that will make the DEFA successful in bridging the digital divide and facilitating more meaningful digital integration.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Digitalisation

21 Sep 2023

Advancing the Digital Health Ecosystem in Southeast Asia

Katrina Navallo|Keith Detros

Katrina Navallo and Keith Detros highlight the importance of infrastructure, trust, and innovation to foster a thriving digital health ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Health

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn attended the launch of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) Negotiations along with other AEC Council Ministers on 3 September 2023 on the sidelines of the 23rd ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting.

14 Sep 2023

The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) – Ground-breaking or Ground to a Halt?

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

If ASEAN’s ten member states can negotiate and come to agree on the world’s first regional digital economy agreement, the region’s continued pace of digital transformation is set to soar. Whether its wings are clipped depends on a complex range of domestic, intra- and inter-regional factors, but at least things are looking promising.

ASEAN Digitalisation

11 Sep 2023

Connecting the Dots: Towards an ASEAN QR Code Payments Network

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Kristina Fong Siew Leng takes stock of the progress towards the establishment of an ASEAN QR code payments network, and outlines the challenges faced in the pursuit of a seamless, cost-effective multilateral system.

ASEAN ASEAN Connectivity ASEANFocus Digitalisation