Southeast Asia’s digital economy to top $1T by 2035: report

Homepage > News > Business > Southeast Asia’s digital economy to top $1T by 2035: report TL;DR: Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to hit $368 billion in 2026 and top $1 trillion by 2035, driven by AI and agentic commerce. Singapore and Germany are adding industrial AI to their work plans, the Philippines is pushing digital investment at APEC, and ASEAN’s DEFA digital trade pact is expected in November. Key Takeaways: Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to reach $368 billion in 2026, up 17% year-on-year. The region’s digital economy is expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2035, driven by agentic commerce. Generative AI adoption has reached 243 million people, or 58% of the region’s working population. Singapore and Germany are making industrial AI part of a five-pillar work plan on security, trade, and energy. The Philippines pushed investment and digital transformation at the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting. ASEAN’s DEFA, expected in November 2026, is billed as the world’s first regionwide digital trade pact. Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines and Singapore are boosting their digital transformation efforts, with Singapore partnering...