Digital Economy Can Deepen ASEAN Integration

Digital economy plays a strategic role as a critical enabler to deepen regional integration of Southeast Asian Nations, says the US-ASEAN Business Council, Bernama reported. “It will also drive next generation domestic demand led growth for startups and Small Medium Enterprise,” said its President and Chief Executive Officer, Alexander C. Feldman, in a statement, in Singapore Tuesday. “We encourage ASEAN governments to create policies on data management that allow member economies to benefit from greater efficiency, extended reach and lower costs,” he said. The report highlights how ASEAN member states can advance their digital economies and the ASEAN Economic Community through pro-growth digital data management policies. “Regional integration and the digital economy are both big opportunities in what is one of the world’s fastest growing regions,” AEC Leader, Deloitte Southeast Asia, Jeff Pirie, said. “All manner of business, from the start-up to the regional champion as well as the multinational, will benefit if the AEC framework puts the digital economy front and center. Now is the time to do so,” Pirie said.