Jakarta, 21-22 October 2024: ERIA, in partnership with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS), held the ASEAN Workshop on ‘Servicification in the Digital Era’ at the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC) in Jakarta. The event brought together fifty ASEAN policymakers, negotiators, and industry experts, along with over 80 online participants, including government officials and key stakeholders from across the region.

The workshop aimed to deepen understanding of servicification – the integration of services into traditional products and processes – a trend accelerated by advancements in digital technologies. Participants explored how servicification could strengthen ASEAN’s economic policies, trade frameworks, and digital workforce. Key objectives included assessing its application in industrial policy development, creating supportive regulations, and leveraging digital talent to enhance productivity and competitiveness in ASEAN.

Distinguished speakers included Matteo Fiorini and Janos Ferencz from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), along with ASEAN experts such as Prof. Sufian Jusoh, Sanjev Sraveanan, and Dr Faudzi Muhammad. The sessions explored the impact of servicification on trade and the policy shifts needed to support a rapidly digitalising services sector.

On the first day, participants were introduced to the foundational concepts of servicification, with case studies on customs valuation and rules of origin. These sessions illuminated the new opportunities and challenges presented by the digitalisation of services trade. The second day’s discussions focused on the strategic integration of the digital economy within ASEAN’s services trade, including the benefits and hurdles of servicification and strategies for effective policy coordination amongst ASEAN Member States to foster regional economic integration. Experts shared scenarios and best practices in service delivery, highlighting applications of servicification.

The workshop concluded with remarks from M. Rizalu Akbar, Director of Trade in Services Negotiation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, who emphasised the importance of continued regional cooperation to align ASEAN policies with the growing integration of services within the digital economy. Insights from this workshop are expected to support policymakers in developing regulatory frameworks that promote innovation-driven economies and strengthen ASEAN’s digital integration.

This workshop underscores ERIA’s commitment to supporting ASEAN’s long-term vision of a digitally interconnected, service-oriented economy and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices across ASEAN.