Jakarta. Regional economic bloc ASEAN has decided to commence the negotiations on the region’s digital economy framework pact two years earlier than originally planned.

The economic affairs ministers of the regional grouping met in Jakarta over the weekend and came to an agreement that they should start the negotiations for DEFA much sooner.

"To expedite the region's digital transformation, the ministers agreed to accelerate the commencement of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement [DEFA] negotiations from 2025 to 2023 under Indonesia’s chairmanship," Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto told a press briefing shortly after the 22nd ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting in Jakarta.

The Southeast Asian bloc has now set a goal to launch the DEFA negotiations in Sep. 2023, according to Airlangga. 

"We are aiming to conclude the first round of the negotiations this year," Airlangga said.

In 2021, ASEAN endorsed the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap (BSSR) which called for the commencement of the DEFA negotiations by 2025. According to the BSSR, the DEFA is comprehensive to progress ASEAN’s cooperation in the digital ecosystem. The DEFA also considers addressing the digital and development gaps of each member state. 

The bloc’s secretariat last month revealed that the study on DEFA —which is expected to give impetus to the pact's negotiations— would reach completion this year.