ESCAP member States pledged to convene a Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation, a forum aimed at expediting the realization of Sustainable Development Goals and regional cooperative initiatives, including the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative.
The “Digital SDGs: "Regional Workshop on Digital Inclusion and Community Development” was co-organized by ESCAP and the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC) on 18-19 September 2023, at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, in a hybrid modality. This event aimed to support the regional promotion of the global SDGs Digital Day which was conducted in New York on 17 September, prior to the SDG Summit.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum with 21 member economies across Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1989, APEC has its core value on promoting regional economic integration under a non-legally binding manner and friendly environment. In the now-extended COVID-19 era, APEC has made its utmost effort to adapt and tackle with the unprecedented challenges which effect the region’s economic well-being.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the interlinkages between digitalization and development. The pandemic catalysed the deployment of innovative digital solutions and digital cooperation for coping with everyday activities and new socio-economic development opportunities. At the same time, the digital divides that the pandemic exacerbated have widened and threatened development inequalities across countries.
