Kuala Lumpur, 4 September 2025 – In conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year, Malaysia will host the ASEAN E-Commerce Conference 2025, which will take place on 24–25 November 2025 at the Grand Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur. This two-day conference is organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), in strategic collaboration with the Malaysia E-Commerce Chapter under the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).
With the theme “ASEAN E-Commerce Transformation: Bridging Gaps, Enhancing Competitiveness”, this inaugural conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry players, and online entrepreneurs from across ASEAN to deliberate on the strategic direction of a dynamic and competitive regional e-commerce transformation. The conference is also supported by leading domestic e-commerce players including Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Mudah.my and Carousell, alongside other co-sponsors.
This strategic collaboration between KPDN and key e-commerce industry players reflects a joint commitment to strengthening digital trust, driving innovation, and ensuring inclusive growth of the regional digital economy. The conference also emphasises reinforcing consumer protection regulations and developing a sustainable and competitive digital ecosystem, in line with the aspirations of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is currently being finalised.
The objectives of the conference are to position e-commerce as a primary driver of ASEAN’s economy and to strengthen consumer protection regulations. The main focus is structured around two core tracks:
(i) Creating a trusted e-commerce marketplace – covering efforts to strengthen online consumer protection, address cross-border regulatory challenges, and tackle issues such as digital piracy and counterfeit goods; and
(ii) Empowering the digital ecosystem — highlighting opportunities to strengthen ASEAN’s digital economy, including improving last-mile logistics networks, expanding access to digital finance such as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through e-commerce.
MICCI believes that e-commerce has the power to transform economies, empower communities, and build resilience across ASEAN. But it requires consensus on regulation, ecosystem readiness, and cross-border cooperation. Through this Conference, we aim to strengthen the bridge between industry and regulators, foster meaningful dialogue on the challenges ahead, and create an inclusive ecosystem where businesses, from global platforms to rural MSMEs and women entrepreneurs, can thrive.
The conference is expected to attract over 350 participants, including representatives from ASEAN member states. It will feature Panel Discussions and Knowledge-Sharing sessions with industry leaders and policymakers on strategic insights covering policy, innovation, and the challenges of e-commerce, in line with efforts to strengthen the regional e-commerce ecosystem. A total of 14 sessions involving 33 panellists from both the public and private sectors, locally and internationally, have been scheduled.
The event will be officiated by YB Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, with a keynote address delivered by Mr. James Dong, President, International Marketplace, Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group. The conference will also feature a high-profile line-up of speakers from both public and private sectors including:
(i) YBhg. Datuk Roziah binti Abudin
Deputy Secretary General (Domestic Trade Development) KPDN;
(ii) Mr. Zhou Jun Jie
Chief Commercial Officer, Shopee (Singapore) Pte Ltd;
(iii) YBhg. Dato’ Indrani Thuraisingham
Vice President
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA);
(iv) Mrs. Wimonrat Rukkhaworakul Teriyapirom
Director
International Cooperation Section, Office of the Consumer Protection Board of Thailand;
(v) Mr. Eric Pelletier
Vice President
Head of International Government Affairs, Alibaba Group;
(vi) Ms. Saovanee Somchit
Country Director
Shopee Malaysia
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the annual revenue of the e-commerce sector continues to show year-on-year growth, reaching RM1,230.6 billion in 2024. For the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, e-commerce revenue has already recorded RM625 billion, which is RM13.5 billion higher than the same period last year.
At the ASEAN level, the e-Conomy SEA 2024 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company highlights that ASEAN’s digital economy generated USD11 billion in profits in 2024, almost three times higher than in 2022. The region’s digital economy is projected to reach USD1 trillion by 2030, with e-commerce amongst the fastest growing segment.
Projections show a compound annual growth rate of 22%, pushing the region’s e-commerce Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) to around US$230 billion by 2026.
KPDN welcomes participation from government agencies, industry players, academics, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and civil society organisations to join this landmark conference. Registration for the ASEAN E-Commerce Conference 2025 is now open and can be made online via the official website: https://www2.micci.com/asean-e-commerce-conference-2025. Early bird ticket promotions will be available until 15 October 2025.
The participation of all stakeholders in this conference is vital to strengthening the regional digital ecosystem and advancing Malaysia’s digital economy agenda. KPDN remains committed as a catalyst for strategic collaboration, consumer protection, and sustainable e-commerce development for the benefit of the people and regional prosperity.
