By PRIME SARMIENTO in Hong Kong and LEONARDUS JEGHO in Jakarta |
China Daily Global |
As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepares to ink a landmark digital pact in November, analysts say the real measure of success will be found not in its potential economic gains but in whether member states can respond to the risks posed by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Once signed, the Digital Economy Framework Agreement would become the world's first region-wide agreement on digital economy governance and have the potential to unlock a $2 trillion online economy. The agreement, Southeast Asia's most ambitious digital pact yet, will cover areas such as digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, data governance and privacy, AI and digital talent mobility.
Josua Pardede, chief economist of Permata Bank in Jakarta, has estimated that DEFA would raise digital penetration in the region from 14-15 percent to 26-28 percent.
