ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates some common challenges faced by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states, and provides policy suggestions from the regional perspective. It looks at the future of the e-commerce market and reviews the actions that have been taken at regional and national level. The chapter draws on attention to the challenges from connectivity, services, labour skills, and rules and regulations and suggests some policy options to be included in ASEAN member states (AMS) ‘to-do’ lists. Therefore, when designing a digital economy strategic plan, AMS should not only consider their domestic market or the ASEAN market, but also think about wider coverage that includes the Chinese market and other big markets in the region. AMS face challenges from development gaps existing across different parts of the country, especially between metropolitan and remote/rural areas. AMS all have included digital economy and e-commerce in their national plans.
