Experts call for increased digital connectivity at the marginal level in poverty alleviation
Participation and cooperation of all sectors is required to reduce the cost of internet connection and to develop digital education in rural areas; Which will help reduce digital inequality and restore economic recovery during The pandemic.
This was highlighted in a seminar titled "Strategy for Addressing the Asia Pacific Digital Drive - Increasing Connectivity to Drive Economic Recovery".
Speakers at the seminar said the pace of digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region is increasing through dynamic markets and youth. Still, limited access to digital technology hinders access to digital access for all, which is a barrier to recovery from the global pandemic. But ICT technology can be a major means of economic recovery.
"It will start by connecting those who are not yet connected digitally," said Michael MacDonald, the chief digital officer at Huawei Asia Pacific. He highlighted Huawei's agenda by combining three key pillars to reduce digital disparities in the region: ICT connectivity, skills requirements and green technology.
Yin Haitao, a professor at the Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Xiao Tong University, also spoke about the importance of digital inclusion. Recently, a report was published on its economic development and the use of ICT solutions in poverty alleviation.
Professor Yin and Professor Chris Marquis of Cornell University's Samuel C. Johnson College of Business co-authored the report entitled "Digital Involvement and Probability Elevation: A Huawei Approach."
Commercial enterprises have long faced financial challenges in implementing such projects. The report said the goal of the RuralStar program is to reduce ICT costs through innovation, enabling local carriers to provide commercially sustainable digital connectivity services in remote and rural areas.
The seminar was jointly organized by the Financial Times and Huawei.
At the seminar, Lee Kuan Yew, director of the EU Center for Innovative City at the University of Technology and Design (SUTD) in Singapore, called for long-term strategies and sustainable cooperation to enhance and streamline people's skills and ensure workers' well-being through digital transformation.
Sophia Shakil, director of the Asia Foundation's economic program, spoke about the negative impact of the pandemic on women's unemployment and the need to invest in skills development.
In 2017, Huawei, the Government of Bangladesh (ICT Department) and Robi Axiata jointly launched the Digital Training Bus Project to enhance the digital skills of women in rural centers across the country. So far, more than 60,000 women have been trained here and by 2023, another 160,000 will benefit.
According to Michael MacDonald, Huawei's education flagship program is expected to create another 400,000 digitally skilled people over the next five years to reduce the upcoming labor shortage in the Asia-Pacific region. Such programs include Seeds for the Future, ASEAN Academy, etc.
In this seminar, experts from different sectors expressed their views on building an ecosystem together by ensuring the participation of thoughtful leaders of the government, concerned sectors, third parties for digital inclusion.
