52% of the 4.3 billion Asia-Pacific population do not have internet access according to the UN. The disparities across different countries in the region are huge. Connectivity ranges from above 85% of the population for countries like Singapore and Malaysia to approximately 65% in India and China. Digital transformation is required to address the widening gap across the region, but there are challenges. One example is the rapid growth of the digital economy in Indonesia during the pandemic, which has favoured urban centres and is driven primarily by the private sector. Here public-private partnerships are required to expand efforts to rural areas and support SMEs. 

The pandemic has served as a catalyst for change, speeding up digitalisation across the region. There have also been challenges, with many cut off from e-health and education services, vital assistance and information when it was most needed. A clear strategy must be developed to solve the challenges faced in different countries across the region, which have been deepened by the effects of the pandemic.

In partnership with Huawei and chaired by a senior Financial Times journalist, this webinar will discuss how to address the digital divide to reduce social inequality and drive post-pandemic economic growth. Strategies covered will include the use of technology, public-private partnerships and the development of required skills.

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