US-ASEAN Business Council Drives Forward Malaysia’s Efforts on ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA)

The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), in partnership with Malaysia’s Ministry for Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), convened an in-country workshop to deepen understanding and alignment on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) among domestic ministries and regulatory agencies on Monday, 25 August 2025 in Grand Hyatt Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The workshop served as a strategic platform to support Malaysia’s role as a regional digital leader through strategic public-private dialogue and sharing best practices to advance the timely and high-standard upcoming implementation of DEFA. 

The workshop brought together leading private sector representatives and industry associations to offer insights on how the implementation of DEFA can enable fair, safe, commercially competitive, and foster innovation for the ASEAN digital trade landscape. The discussions highlighted Malaysia’s strong commitment to advancing regional digital integration under its leadership for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, with DEFA serving as a key driver for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Participants exchanged views on aligning Malaysia’s national digital initiatives with DEFA’s provisions, particularly in areas such as data governance, digital trade facilitation, and non-discriminatory treatment of digital products. By fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia, the workshop reinforced the importance of building a trusted, interoperable, and innovation-driven digital trade discipline that empowers businesses of all sizes, including MSMEs, to thrive in the regional and global digital ecosystem. ​ 

“Today’s discussion underscores Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair in 2025, driving digital transformation, economic integration, and the future implementation of DEFA. The Council and our member companies are committed to supporting ASEAN and Malaysia throughout this process,” said Ambassador Ted Osius, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council. Reflecting Malaysia’s digital economy priorities, YBhg. Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, the Deputy Secretary General (Investment & Management) of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, emphasized DEFA’s strategic position as a turning point for both ASEAN and Malaysia, with MITI’s leadership playing a pivotal role in strengthening regional coordination, public-private partnerships, and preparations for effective implementation of DEFA. ​ 

With ASEAN targeting the substantial conclusion of DEFA by the end of 2025, USABC reaffirms its commitment to supporting the region through close engagement with governments, capacity-building initiatives, and expert-driven dialogues. USABC and its member companies remains dedicated to advancing public-private partnerships that drive digital transformation, regulatory coherence, and inclusive growth across ASEAN’s digital economy. 

The workshop was supported by Amazon, Google, and Mastercard. ​ 

 

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About US-ASEAN Business Council

Since 1984, the US-ASEAN Business Council has been the premier advocacy organization for U.S. corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Worldwide, the Council's membership of nearly 170 companies generates almost US$7 trillion in revenue and employs more than 14.5 million people.  Today our members include the largest U.S. companies conducting business in ASEAN and range from newcomers to the region to companies that have been working in Southeast Asia for more than 100 years. The Council has nine offices around the globe, in Washington, DC; New York, NY; Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Singapore; and Yangon, Myanmar.

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