LibDaD Consulting

The ongoing negotiation of the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA)  marks a critical juncture for Southeast Asia. This is not a benign technical agreement but a political compact that will determine whether the region’s digital future is one of genuine, inclusive development or one of permanent subordination to Global North corporate power. As Timor-Leste joins the DEFA table for the first time , it must stand on the principles of right to shape its own developm

4-6 November 2025, Dili, Timor-Leste – History was made on October 26, 2025, when Timor-Leste officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This milestone is more than a diplomatic victory, it is a generational opportunity to reshape the nation's economic future. Just days after this momentous occasion, a crucial post-accession workshop convened in Dili, gathering national officials, regional experts, and development partners with a

The journey of Timor-Leste, Asia’s youngest nation, reaches a critical inflection point. Timor-Leste formal accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and recent full membership in ASEAN are profound diplomatic victories—a definitive stamp of international legitimacy.   Yet, this moment is not merely a celebration, it is a profound pivot. By integrating into the global and regional economy, Timor-Leste have chosen a path of intense economic liberalization.