KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to accelerating the implementation of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) as Asean chair, recognising its potential to drive regional economic growth, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

Gobind highlights the agreement's importance, with Asean's digital economy projected to reach US$2 trillion by 2030.

He believes Malaysia can leverage Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's strong ties with regional leaders to expedite consensus.

"His close relationship with Asean country leaders is a strength because when there is that friendship, discussions can be held to resolve initial problems so that the agreement can be implemented as soon as possible to have an economic impact, not only on Malaysia but also on the region," he said on Bernama TV's Asean Dari Kuala Lumpur Ke Dunia programme last night.

Gobind notes that DEFA, which focuses on infrastructure development, e-commerce, cybersecurity, digital payment systems, and transformation policies such as e-invoicing, has been under discussion for several years.

"...but there are certain problems because each country has different challenges. Some are strong in certain aspects, while others need time as they are not yet ready in terms of Internet connectivity and the overall digital ecosystem.