ASEAN 15TH DIGITAL ECONOMY FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT (DEFA) NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE MEETING IS CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY

Jakarta, November 28, 2025

The ASEAN member States and Timor-Leste represented by officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Transports and Communication agency TIC Timor, participated in ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement or DEFA negotiating committee meeting for the 15th times in Jakarta from 25 to 27 November 2025.

This meeting is a continuation to the ongoing DEFA negotiation among the ten ASEAN countries attended by the officials from ten countries and now including Timor-Leste as the new member.

The meeting discusses pending articles of DEFA that covers nine pillars related to Digital Trade, Cross Border E-Commerce, Paperless Trade, online safety and cyber security, cross border data flow and data protection, consumer protection, competition laws, cooperation in emerging topics and talent mobility.

In observing the negotiation of DEFA closely, the MCI officials with TIC Timor interact also with officials from all ASEAN countries on DEFA articles that are currently undisclosed for technical discussion.

At the opening, MCI official also shares the opening remarks in conveying the message from the Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Minister Nino Pereira about the application of Electronic Commerce that it is already applicable in Timor-Leste.

And its no longer a new ambition as Timor-Leste has adopted E-Commerce Decree Law no.12/2024 and embedded into many electronic transactions of goods and services in Timor-Leste. E-Commerce has revolutionized how people live, work and trade, it has created jobs, accelerated trade and driven cross border investment.

As stated on the Minister’s National E-Commerce Strategy, Timor-Leste only need to improve its digital infrastructure development in phases and with the incoming Fibre Optic Cable from Port Hedland Australia and the support of all ASEAN member States, Timor-Leste will be ready to embrace DEFA.

The negotiating committee meeting of DEFA 15th discusses complex issues related to nine principles of DEFA covers cross border e-commerce, paperless trade, online safety and cyber security, cross border data flows, personal data protection, consumer protection, competition policy, cooperation in emerging technology and talent mobility cooperation.

The outcome of the 15th DEFA NC meeting is near conclusion of DEFA agreement, pending domestic consultation by ASEAN member States, before reaching consensus, some complex issues will be brought to SEOM for decision in the next round. The DEFA negotiation now is tentatively scheduled for conclusion in the first quarter of 2026 and expected for signing by all ASEAN member States including Timor-Leste next year.

With Timor-Leste’s implementation to be guided by its roadmap, where DEFA is listed on its priority 3 timeline to be in force after five years post accession as the 11th member of ASEAN.

The MCI officials were also accompanied by the ICT/TIC Timor official in observing the DEFA negotiation discussion closely with the rest of all the ASEAN member States officials.

The negotiation is expected to conclude by the first quarter of next year where DEFA will be concluded and to be signed by all the ASEAN members States including Timor-Leste.

For Timor-Leste DEFA implementation plans are being listed within the priority three of the roadmap timeline that is five years from the date of acceding to ASEAN as the 11th member.

Thailand as the chair of DEFA negotiation appreciated Timorese officials attending the 15th DEFA NC meeting for the first time as the full member of ASEAN and announced that DEFA will include Timor-Leste in its upcoming capacity building related to Digital Economic activities.

MCI as the lead implementing agency is supported by the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta and assure to assist Timor-Leste to keep up with the progress on digital economy negotiation in shaping the ASEAN DEFA agreement in the upcoming SEOM meeting.

ASEC also requested Timor-Leste to submit the lists of areas for officials training programs and to attend the upcoming training on digitalization capacity building activities in ASEAN next month.