Timor-Leste to sign ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement in Manila
DÍLI, 30 September 2026 (TATOLI) — The Council of Ministers has authorised Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environment Francisco Kalbuadi Lay to sign, on behalf of Timor-Leste, the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Digital Economy (DEFA).
The signing of the agreement is scheduled to take place in Manila, the Philippines, in November 2026.
The Government also granted full authority to Minister for Trade and Industry Nino Pereira to sign the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) on behalf of Timor-Leste.
The two agreements form part of ASEAN’s efforts to strengthen regional economic integration and establish common frameworks for cooperation among member states.
The DEFA aims to promote an integrated digital economy within ASEAN by harmonising standards and procedures amongst Member States, covering areas such as e-commerce and electronic payments, digital identity, data protection, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
The AFAC establishes a regional framework for cooperation on competition matters, based on the fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory application of relevant rules, and on strengthening competition authorities and cooperation between Member States.
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