ADB chief: Digital tech can boost economies
Developing economies in Asia and the Pacific stand to benefit from the rise of digital technologies and appropriate policies are needed to if they are to take advantages of opportunities and meet challenges, the chief of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Tuesday.
“The world is again in a time of immense change being brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution,” ADB President Takehiko Nakao said in welcome remarks at the start of the two-day Digital Development Forum in Manila.
“With appropriate policies, the developing countries of Asia and the Pacific stand to benefit tremendously in this new era. I see great opportunities, as well as challenges,” he added.
Nakao said the Manila-based lender was helping Asia and Pacific economies leverage digital technologies for development, earlier this year creating its Digital Technology for Development Unit. The ADB is also implementing internal reforms promoting the use of new technologies.
In a statement, the ADB said it had approved 450 projects with information and communications technology components over the last eight years. Moving forward, it said it would be delivering integrated solutions in the areas of smart cities, e-government and e-commerce.
In helping build enabling environments for country adoption of digital technologies, the ADB said this would include a reliable ICT infrastructure, skilled human resources and enabling policies and regulatory environments.
Nakao mentioned Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Kyrgyz Republic as among the nations that had benefited from the ADB’s shift to ICT-related endeavors.
The ADB also said it would be signing a cooperation agreement with the Asian Institute of Management during the forum on a collaboration focused on innovation programs.
The post ADB chief: Digital tech can boost economies appeared first on The Manila Times Online.