{
  "id": 20137345,
  "title": "Anwar: DEFA can help double Asean digital economy to US$2 trillion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/anwar-defa-can-help-double-asean-digital-economy-to-us-2-trillion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T07:26:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1578337/anwar-defa-can-help-double-asean-digital-economy-us2-trillion"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of accelerating digital transformation in Southeast Asia through the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). This framework is crucial for enhancing regional economic integration and fostering sustainable growth in line with the Asean Community Vision 2045. Malaysia warmly welcomed DEFA's historic signing, which could potentially double the size of the regional digital economy to US$2 trillion by 2030. However, Anwar warned against allowing a few global tech giants to monopolize artificial intelligence (AI), urging collective efforts to bolster technological capabilities, safeguard data sovereignty, and establish a strong governance framework for transparency and accountability. During the 49th Asean Summit, Anwar stressed that DEFA could unlock more digital trade and investment opportunities, benefiting Malaysia and strengthening its economic position. In 2025, the information and communications technology and e-commerce sectors contributed 23.5% or RM476.8 billion to Malaysia's GDP.",
  "summary": "MANILA: Asean must accelerate its digital transformation by fully leveraging the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) to strengthen regional economic integration and drive sustainable growth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Packed ASEAN Summit Schedule For Anwar In Manila",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/general-packed-asean-summit-schedule-for-anwar-in-manila",
        "published": "2026-11-14T22:42:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Anwar gesa Asean pelbagai sumber bekalan makanan, ubatan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/anwar-gesa-asean-pelbagai-sumber-bekalan-makanan-ubatan",
        "published": "2026-11-15T05:47:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Anwar urges Asean to diversify food, medicine supply sources amid global uncertainty",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/anwar-urges-asean-to-diversify-food-medicine-supply-sources-amid",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:24:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}