Singapore, September 24, 2025 — ASEAN competition authorities have launched a new five-year plan to strengthen cross-border enforcement and safeguard fair markets, with a sharper focus on enforcement in the digital markets .
At the opening of the 11th ASEAN Competition Conference (ACC) in Singapore, regulators introduced the ASEAN Competition Action Plan (ACAP) 2026-2030, which outlines a roadmap for deeper cooperation among the authorities of member states. The plan will guide joint efforts to coordinate investigations, align enforcement practices, and promote a level playing field across the bloc’s fast-growing economies.
Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling stressed that “upholding competitive markets” is key to strengthening ASEAN’s economic resilience. She noted that dismantling barriers to fair competition could generate up to $540 billion in net economic value and create 12 million new jobs by 2030, citing estimates tied to greater Global Value Chain integration.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) Chairman Max Loh said that digital markets in particular demand stronger coordination. “Digital markets now transcend national boundaries, creating enforcement challenges that no single authority can address alone.”
He added that fair competition is especially vital for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which make up more than 95% of ASEAN businesses.
AI Markets Toolkit
Alongside ACAP, the CCCS unveiled an AI Markets (AIM) Toolkit, developed with the Infocomm Media Development Authority. The voluntary tool helps companies self-assess whether their AI systems comply with competition and consumer protection standards. The regulator hopes it will both encourage innovation and deter anticompetitive practices in AI-driven markets.
Alvin Koh, Chief Executive of CCCS, said the forum marks “a new era of competition policy cooperation” and reinforces ASEAN’s collective commitment to resilient markets.
