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Digital Technology

Digital technology has boosted growth, expanded opportunities, and improved service delivery in much of the world. ADB's initiatives are empowering the poor to use digital technology to help lift themselves out of poverty.

  • Digital technology boosts growth, expands opportunities, and improves government services but also brings new challenges, including effective regulation.
     

    Digital technology boosts growth, expands opportunities, and improves government services but also brings new challenges, including effective regulation.

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  • More targeted investment and new partnerships are needed in infrastructure, capacity, and skills to realize the benefits of digital technology.
     

    More targeted investment and new partnerships are needed in infrastructure, capacity, and skills to realize the benefits of digital technology.

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  • Fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and inclusive growth are all key to unlocking sustainable development in the region.
     

    Fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and inclusive growth are all key to unlocking sustainable development in the region.

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  • Proportion of the population covered by a 3G mobile network, 2019

    ADB financing has included support for telecommunications networks, data centers, cloud services, devices and applications, and adequate power supply.

  • Digital economy size
    (% of GDP)

    Advances in digital technology have enhanced the productive capacities of economies, helping to improve economic efficiency and growth.

  • Proportion of population in Asia and the Pacific using mobile internet, 2020

    Digital technology has boosted growth, expanded opportunities, and improved government services across Asia and the Pacific.

ADB recognises that for digital technology to have sustainable development impact in the region, more investment is needed in policy, infrastructure, capacity, and skills. ADB financing has included support for:

  • Digital infrastructure, such as telecommunications networks, data centers, cloud services, devices and applications, and adequate power supply.
  • Digital technology industries, through an improved business environment, support to research and development, or enhanced competitiveness.
  • Digital technology start-ups, through ecosystem development and impact investment.
  • Digital services in areas such as education, finance, governance, and health.
  • Digital technology policy and strategy.
  • Data analytics and insights, such as leveraging public earth observation data from satellites for disaster risk reduction or intelligent agriculture.
  • Digital technology capacity development and upskilling.

Our Impact

Development progress in Asia and the Pacific.

0 %

Proportion of adults in developing Asia with a bank account or using mobile money

0 %

Proportion of population in developing Asia covered by a mobile network and/or ICT

0 %

Proportion of population in developing Asia with access to electricity

Source:
2021 Development Effectiveness Review - Scorecard and Related Information

Your Questions Answered

  • What are the three most important ways that digital technology is contributing to economic growth in South Asia?

     

    Digital technology creates new job opportunities, while improving and expanding economic activity through increased speed and reduced transaction costs. Digital technology is a key enabler of the transition to a greener, sustainable digital economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

  • In developing Asia, what’s the most effective way of bridging the huge digital divide between the poorest and the emerging middle class?

     

    To address the digital divide across the region, governments need to invest in digital infrastructure, especially in expanding connectivity access and by reducing the cost of connectivity to low-income communities.

  • How has digital connectivity fostered growth in remote regions, like the islands of the Pacific?

     

    Digital connectivity enables remote working, as well as education, health access and ecommerce, all of which are instrumental in economic and social development in highly dispersed regions like the Pacific.

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What's New

Experts

Thomas Abell
Thomas Abell

Advisor, SDCC and Chief of Digital Technology for Development

More Experts

Seok Yong Yoon
Seok Yong Yoon

Principal Public Management Specialist (e-Governance)

Ben Coghlan
Arndt Husar

Senior Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation)

Yoonee Jeong
Yoonee Jeong

Senior Digital Technology Specialist

Paolo Manunta
Paolo Manunta

Senior Infrastructure Specialist (Earth Observation)

Gary Tsai
Gary Tsai

Senior Digital Technology Specialist

ByeongJo Kong
ByeongJo Kong

Digital Technology Specialist (Data Analytics and Big Data)

Masatake Yamamichi
Masatake Yamamichi

Digital Technology Specialist (Cybersecurity and Data Privacy)

Mitsunori Yoshimura
Mitsunori Yoshimura

Infrastructure Specialist