The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 4 September vowed to help countries and territories in Asia and the Pacific leverage digital technology for socio-economic development, saying digital technology is rapidly developing in diverse fields.

ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao during the Digital Development Forum 2018 at ADB headquarters (Source: adb.org)

Speaking at the 2018 Digital Development Forum in Manila, the Philippines, ADB President Takehiko Nakao said that new tools like mobile communications, robotics and artificial intelligence are bringing profound changes to the way people live, work, interact and do business.

To help countries leverage digital technologies for development, Nakao said ADB set up the Digital Technology for Development Unit in March 2018. The Manila-based bank is also implementing new digital reforms that focus on innovation and support dramatic modernisation of business processes, he added.

With appropriate policies, the ADB leader said the developing countries and territories in Asia and the Pacific benefit tremendously in this new era.

The September 4-5 forum provides a venue for high-level discussions on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) for development in region.

During the event, ADB will sign a cooperation agreement with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on research and development of innovation programmes and activities.

(Source: VNA)