ARTICLES

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.

19 Apr 2023

Leveraging the Rise of Digital Economy for Sustainability

Melinda Martinus

Melinda Martinus calls for ASEAN to harness the rise of the digital economy beyond profit to focus on the people and environment.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Regional Cooperation Sustainable Development

8 Mar 2023

Promoting Global Digital Supply Chains in ASEAN

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy|Pham Thi Phuong Thao

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy and Pham Thi Phuong Thao discuss key challenges facing ASEAN in promoting digital supply chains amid the shift of multinational corporations’ (MNCs) operations to the region.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Global Value Chains Supply Chains

17 Feb 2023

Fragmented Digital Regulations are Constraining ASEAN’s Digital Economy

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

The ASEAN digital economy is running sub-optimally due to fragmented regulatory frameworks. Increased coherence will enable the region’s firms to break out of their local markets and raise revenues from the expansion of consumer markets.

ASEAN Digitalisation Economy

A Gojek rider makes a delivery in Surabaya

23 Nov 2022

The State of Indonesia’s Digital Economy in 2022

Siwage Dharma Negara|Astrid Meilasari-Sugiana

This Long Read examines how the digital sector has transformed Indonesia’s economy during the pandemic. It analyses changes in consumer behaviour and assesses the prospects for sustainable growth for various digital services segments.

Digitalisation Indonesia Indonesian Economy

26 Aug 2022

The Media Landscape in Indonesia: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Sofie Syarief

The emergence of digital media has not resulted in more diversity in ownership control and editorial content in Indonesia’s media industry. The capital-intensive nature of the industry means that large media groups have become larger by expanding into multiplatform media. In addition, many new digital media outlets need to be backed by conglomerates to be sustainable and significant.

Digitalisation Indonesia Media

28 Jul 2022

Promoting Inclusive Growth with Digital Identification in ASEAN

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

Digital identification could be a silver bullet to increase tax revenues for ASEAN governments while pulling the region’s poorest out of poverty by redistributing wealth.

ASEAN Digitalisation

26 Jul 2022

Digital Transformation under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency: What can it Deliver?

Lili Yan Ing|Titik Anas|Maria Monica Wihardja

Indonesia’s G20 presidency has committed to take action in the three priority areas of digital transformation, global health infrastructure and energy transition. But the war in Ukraine threatens to overshadow the agenda. The G20 may have to be satisfied with lowest common denominator agreements, though Indonesia clearly aspires for more.

Digitalisation G20 Indonesia Technology