ASEAN is set to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2030, and it is a transition that will be championed by an increasingly tech-savvy younger population which is rapidly rising up the socio-economic ladder. ASEAN’s digital economy – a collective term for all economic transactions that occur online – will progress in hand with this, and is expected to expand 6.4 times from US$31 billion in 2015 to US$197 billion by 2025 according to the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
While this expansion is happening at an “unprecedented pace” according to the World Bank’s Director of Digital Development, Boutheina Guermazi, the full potential of ASEAN’s digital economy is not being fully realised.
Take for example micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). They account for at least 95 percent of all business establishments and more than half of total employment in ASEAN. Despite their pervasiveness, ERIA estimates that MSMEs only contribute 30 to 53 percent of ASEAN’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 10 to 30 percent of its imports. Whether this is in part due to research by consultants Bain & Co which found that only 16 percent of ASEAN MSMEs use digital technologies to their full potential is up for debate, but it is certain that narrowing this gap will go a long way in improving the region’s digital economy.
“Even though ASEAN’s population has embraced digital services, adoption by businesses and governments has generally been slower (and) regulatory bottlenecks and a lack of trust in electronic transactions stifle the growth of digital systems,” said Guermazi.
Connectivity, skills and digital payments
A report by the World Bank earlier this month titled ‘The Digital Economy in Southeast Asia – Strengthening the Foundations for Future Growth’ identified six main areas of improvement for ASEAN’s digital economy – with the expansion of connectivity the first item on the agenda. Although half of the region’s population uses the Internet – which is on par with the global average – this can be further expanded with policies and actions that will significantly lower prices, increase speeds and bring reliable broadband internet to underserved areas. Except for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, fixed broadband speeds – which are especially crucial to data-intensive business applications – in the seven other ASEAN countries are well below the global average.
Strengthening the digital skills of ASEAN’s population of 650 million people will ensure that opportunities and benefits reach everyone. Although the region already has good literacy and numeracy rates, education systems need to be more flexible in developing the skills needed to operate in a digital economy which range from basic computer knowledge to advanced skills like coding and data analytics. So-called “soft skills” like collaboration and communication are also essential.
Expanding the use of digital payments, a cornerstone of a digital economy, is another priority. World Bank data shows that only 19 percent of financial account holders in the region access their accounts via the Internet, well below the average for the world’s middle-income countries and Sub-Saharan Africa at 27 and 24 percent, respectively. Apart from developing the appropriate regulatory infrastructure, governments can also increase the use of digital payments by implementing them in their interactions with citizens – such as paying for government services or receiving pensions.
Logistics, policies and business-friendly climate
Logistics remains a barrier in e-commerce, and getting products to reach their destinations in a cost-effective and reliable manner is one of the industry’s biggest challenges. E-commerce shipments face unpredictable customs procedures in many countries, and World Bank data has shown that customs is the weakest area of performance in the region’s logistics sector.
Policies that promote trust in areas such as data privacy, cybersecurity and consumer protection will also help grow participation in the digital economy. Fewer than half of ASEAN member states have comprehensive data protection laws, and authorities have limited capacity in terms of data protection. Policies are also not coordinated regionally, making it hard for individuals and businesses alike to know what regulations apply when their data moves across borders.
Finally, governments need to offer digital services platforms that support businesses and reduce transaction times and costs like online licensing and permit approvals. Although frameworks such as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025, Masterplan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement help address the issues noted above, more research, astute policy-making and coordinated regional involvement will ensure Southeast Asia is better positioned to unlock the full potential of the region’s digital economy.
Related articles:
Are ASEAN’s internet speeds world class?