Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Alamin, Wassalatu Wassalamu 'Ala-Asyarafil Anbiya'e Wal Mursalin, Saidina Muhammadin Wa'ala Alihi Wasahbihi Ajma'in,

Tuan Haji Mohammad Salihin bin Haji Aspar, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Transport), Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications,

Puan Hajah Siti Hairmi binti Haji Brahim, Acting Chief Executive, AITI

Invited Government Officials, 

Members from the Industry and Academia, 

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen 

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera, and a very good morning. 

Welcoming Salutations

1. It is my honour and privilege to welcome all of you to the kick-off event for the Study on Brunei Darussalam’s Readiness for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). Allow me to extend our sincere appreciation to representatives from government agencies, industry, private sector stakeholders, academia, and our colleagues from the ASEAN Secretariat for joining us today.

2. Your presence this morning signals a strong and collective commitment towards ensuring that Brunei Darussalam is well positioned to capture the opportunities of the emerging ASEAN digital economy. This commitment is essential, not only for supporting our national digital aspirations, but also for strengthening ASEAN’s shared vision of a trusted, innovative, and seamlessly connected digital future. 

ASEAN’s Digital Momentum 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

3. ASEAN today stands at a pivotal moment. The region is experiencing an unprecedented wave of digital transformation that is reshaping economies, industries, and societies. As highlighted in the latest e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to surpass USD 300 billion in gross merchandise value by the end of this year. E-commerce continues to dominate, while digital financial services, logistics, transport, and food delivery all show strong upward trends, propelled by a digitally savvy population and rapid technological adoption.

4. This momentum underscores ASEAN’s growing role as one of the most dynamic digital economies globally. A major driver for this continued expansion is the ASEAN DEFA; the region’s first, and most ambitious agreement— a landmark agreement expected to be signed in 2026.

5. The DEFA is one of ASEAN’s key initiatives, aimed at fostering regional integration, enhancing cross-border trade, and strengthening trust in digital systems. For this agreement to succeed, it is essential that each Member State assesses their readiness and capacity to implement DEFA’s commitments effectively. 

6. DEFA is not merely a policy document. It is a forward-looking strategic blueprint to harmonise digital rules, enable trusted cross-border data flows, promote interoperable digital payments, streamline digital trade processes, and strengthen cybersecurity and consumer protection across the region. Collectively, these efforts are projected to double ASEAN’s digital economy to USD 2 trillion by 2030, contributing significantly to ASEAN’s aspiration of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy.

The Importance of National Readiness

7. For DEFA to succeed, every Member State must be ready — institutionally, technologically, and operationally. This is why today’s kick-off is so important.

8. For Brunei Darussalam, this Readiness Study serves as a strategic opportunity to take stock of where we stand today and identify what more needs to be done to meet DEFA’s commitments effectively.

9. We are fortunate to have the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) leading this study as consultants. 

10. This assessment is a forward-looking effort to ensure that our policies, systems, and institutions are aligned to the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy. The recommendations that emerge from this study will be directly relevant to Brunei Darussalam’s ongoing national agenda — including the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025 and the forthcoming Digital Brunei Transformation Plan.

11. This study will help us bridge existing gaps, strengthen our ecosystem, and prioritise investments or interventions that maximise our national readiness. Equally important, it will help ensure that Brunei remains a trusted, competitive, and confident partner in the regional and global digital economy.

Closing

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14. In closing, I would like to emphasise that ASEAN’s journey towards a cohesive digital economy requires close cooperation, open dialogue, and sustained commitment from all stakeholders. Your participation today — and throughout this assessment process — is invaluable.

15. Let us work together to ensure that Brunei Darussalam is ready not only to meet DEFA’s requirements, but to fully embrace the opportunities of the digital era for the benefit of our people, our businesses, and also our nation.

I look forward to your continued support and contributions.

Thank you.

Wabillahitaufiq Wal hidayah 

Wassalamualaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.