ASEAN Member States have successfully concluded negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), paving the way for a more integrated digital economy and stronger regional economic growth.
Manila, Philippines, May 29, 2026: Singapore has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), marking a major milestone in Southeast Asia’s digital transformation journey.
The agreement was finalised during the Second Meeting of the 57th ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) held in Manila from May 27 to 29, 2026.
As the first comprehensive, region-wide agreement dedicated entirely to the digital economy, the ASEAN DEFA aims to create a more digitally connected Southeast Asia by linking the digital economies of all ASEAN Member States through a common framework of rules and standards.
The agreement addresses the growing complexities of the digital age by establishing streamlined and robust digital regulations across the region. It builds on ASEAN’s existing digital economy initiatives and introduces common rules to facilitate digital trade, simplify trade procedures, support trusted cross-border data flows, enhance digital payments and electronic transactions, strengthen online consumer protection, and improve digital interoperability.
The ASEAN DEFA is expected to make it easier for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to access opportunities across Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding digital economy. Consumers are also expected to benefit from greater confidence and security when conducting online transactions.
In addition to strengthening existing digital cooperation, the agreement introduces new provisions covering emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (FinTech), and source code protection, reflecting ASEAN’s commitment to future-ready digital governance.
The agreement is also expected to contribute significantly to regional economic growth. Studies endorsed by ASEAN Economic Ministers project that full implementation of the DEFA could help double ASEAN’s digital economy to US$2 trillion by 2030.
Singapore played an active role throughout the negotiations, supporting efforts to deliver a commercially meaningful and high-quality agreement. Singapore also expressed appreciation to Thailand, which chaired the DEFA Negotiating Committee, as well as fellow ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and business stakeholders for their contributions to the negotiations.
With negotiations now complete, ASEAN Member States are targeting the formal signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement at the 49th ASEAN Summit scheduled for November 2026.
Source: MTI
