Jakarta, Oct. 4 -- The completion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) in May 2026 is taking regional digital integration into a new phase. The agreement is expected to be signed in November during the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines.

The wider market could create more opportunities for digital workers, but it also raises a more basic question: Can skills developed in one ASEAN country be understood, verified, and matched to jobs in another?

ASEAN has cited studies estimating that the region's digital economy could reach as much as US$2 trillion by 2030 if DEFA is successfully implemented. That expansion is likely to increase demand for workers who can operate across borders as companies expan...