The United States-Associatiom of Southeast Asian Nations Business Council and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines hold the fourth roundtable of the 2026 Philippine ASEAN Chairship Roundtable Series on Digital Economy and Workforce Development in Pasig City on Thursday (March 19). Attendees were senior government officials, private sector leaders and development partners. (Photo courtesy of USABC)
As ASEAN moves closer to sealing a landmark regional digital economy agreement under the Philippines’ chairship this year, business leaders are pressing for stronger public-private collaboration to ensure the region’s digital transformation is both inclusive and workforce-ready.
That call was underscored during a high-level roundtable on ASEAN digital economy and workforce development held in Pasig City on March 19, where the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines (ASEAN-BAC Philippines) highlighted the need to accelerate digitalization while scaling up worker upskilling across Southeast Asia.
“ASEAN’s digital economy is expanding faster than the policy environment can keep pace,” said Herminio Bagro, USABC’s chief representative in the Philippines, in a news release issued Saturday.
“The opportunity now is to turn DEFA (Digital Economy Framework Agreement) commitments into interoperable rules, strengthen digital infrastructure, and align workforce development with industry demand so businesses can scale and growth translates into quality jobs across the region,” he added.
ASEAN member states are currently negotiating the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is poised to become the world’s first region-wide digital economy arrangement. The pact is expected to cover key areas such as cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, electronic payments, paperless trade, as well as emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and blockchain.
With the agreement inching closer to completion, stakeholders stressed the importance of building interoperable and trusted digital infrastructure while also putting in place clear, predictable, and business-friendly rules for cross-border data movement.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Kiko Benitez, who attended the roundtable, said the Philippines intends to use its ASEAN chairship to help shape the region’s digital future.
“At the center of this effort is an urgent recognition that workforce development will determine whether we succeed or fall behind in the digital economy,” Benitez said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro earlier said the DEFA is expected to be signed in November, when the Philippines hosts the second ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila.
The USABC and ASEAN-BAC Philippines policy dialogue series will culminate in a final roundtable on artificial intelligence on April 14. Insights from the discussions are expected to feed into a Strategic Action Plan scheduled for launch ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in May.