Based on the outcome and suggestions at the 21st meeting organized on 4 December 2017, this meeting aims to elaborate coordination and planning of joint activities among participating agencies for the coming year. In particular, the meeting will discuss how agencies can contribute jointly to the efforts towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including through the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) scheduled at the end of March 2018.

The Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Steering Group Meeting (12 and 13 December 2017) and the Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on the Asian Highway Network (AH) (13 to 15 December 2017 will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

AI-led transformations constrained by the digital divide in Asia and the Pacific

Developing Asia will need to invest US$26tn from 2016 to 2030, or US$1.7tn per year, if the region is to maintain its growth momentum, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

China accounts for nearly half of the US$1.7tn total annual requirement but its infrastructure gap is much smaller than the Asian average after a quarter century of unprecedented investment. 

Investments in telecommunications will need to reach US$2.3tn. If fulfilled, such investment will come as welcome news to many businesses impacted by the region’s underdeveloped telecoms infrastructure.