ACT | The App Association Calls for a Strong Digital Economy Framework Agreement Ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit
Washington, D.C. - As leaders gather for the 47th annual Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, ACT | The App Association calls for the development of modern and comprehensive digital economy rules, including through the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), that will support prosperity across ASEAN member states by empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). “The ASEAN region is at a critical moment for unlocking digital transformation opportunities across countless business sectors and national [...]
ACT | The App Association Recommendations Supporting the Development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Digital Economy Framework at the 47th Annual ASEAN Summit
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn Secretary-General Association of Southeast Asian Nations 70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110 Indonesia RE: ACT | The App Association Recommendations Supporting the Development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Digital Economy Framework at the 47th Annual ASEAN Summit Dear Secretary-General Hourn, ACT | The App Association writes in support of the continued leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in advancing the region’s digital transformation. As ASEAN member nations work toward finalizing [...]
How Rising H-1B Costs Sideline Startups
While the public conversation around H-1B visas often focuses on larger players in tech, startups and small tech companies rely on the program, too. Data from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) shows that more than half of new H-1B approvals go to employers that file 20 or fewer applications, and nearly 70 percent go to those filing 100 or fewer. This suggests that many small and mid-sized firms actively utilize the program to attract specialized talent and [...]
New Analyses Warn of Heavy Cost to Consumers and Small Businesses with Proposed Regulation of Online Marketplaces
In the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region, aggressive anti-competition policies to regulate online marketplaces will crush small businesses and cost consumers. Two recent research reports expose the significant increases in regulatory costs and the even greater economic loss for APEC member economies and international trading partners. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), like ACT | The App Association’s members, will feel the impact of digital platform regulations the most, so we are engaging with policymakers across APEC to ensure [...]
ACT | The App Association Disappointed by Commission Announcement that 28th Regime Will Be Directive, Not Regulation
BRUSSELS - The European Commission’s 2026 Work Programme, published today, reveals that the awaited proposal for a ‘28th regime’ as an optional EU-wide company form for startups and scaleups will take the form of a Directive rather than a Regulation. This decision marks a significant shift from earlier expectations and risks undermining the Commission’s own ambition to build a ‘bolder, simpler, and faster’ Union and foster Single Market integration. Mike Sax, founder and chairperson of ACT | The App [...]