The Pacific Blue Continent became a torchbearer in expanding the wealth of knowledge of the digital economy as the first-ever regional edition of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) flagship Digital Economy Report was launched on 16 February at the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva.
The Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition 2022 highlights the status of the emerging digital economy in the Pacific and points out the challenges and potentials of digital transformation. It shows that data is key to enable policymakers to make informed decisions as they deal with the implications of the digital economy and that the latter will affect not only trade, innovation and economic progress, but also a range of issues related to human rights, health, education and national security.
Over 200 participants joined the hybrid event signaling that the region has a strong interest in digital integration. As a prominent exponent of the Pacific Countries, Mr Shaheen Ali, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises welcomed the report, “The launch of the Digital Economy Report for the Pacific is an exciting step forward for the region. It provides a roadmap for building a robust and inclusive digital economy that can propel us into the future”.
Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dr Filimon Manoni, focuses on placing inclusion at the centre of the agenda , “Evidence-based policymaking will be key to building a digital economy that works for all people and we must continue to prioritize under-served and marginalized groups such as youth, women and those living in rural areas”.
The report owes to the support provided by the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP), which is jointly administered by UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNCTAD and UN Development Programme (UNDP). PDEP is financed by Australia and the European Union.
Download full Report: Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition 2022
Read more: New report on digital economy in the Pacific launched
Read Full Remarks:
Remarks: Dr Filimon Manoni, Acting Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
