Background
Digital innovation is rapidly reshaping socioeconomic landscapes across Asia and the Pacific, creating new pathways for inclusive, resilient, and people centred development.
Advances in connectivity, digital public services, artificial intelligence, and data-driven technologies have become essential enablers of progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with direct implications for improving social protection, expanding economic opportunities, enhancing public service delivery, and strengthening social inclusion for people of all ages.
Building on the analytical insights of the 80th Commission Session (CS80), which highlighted both persistent digital divides and emerging opportunities across subregions—from connectivity and cybersecurity gaps in the Pacific, to advanced technologies in East and North-East Asia, transport corridor digitalization in North and Central Asia, digital public infrastructure in South and South-West Asia, and fast-growing digital economies and AI governance needs in South-East Asia—there is increasing recognition that regional and inter-subregional cooperation is essential to accelerate progress.
The proposed side event directly contributes to the overarching theme of the 82nd Commission Session (CS82), “Leaving no one behind: Advancing a society for all ages in Asia and the Pacific.” Well-governed, affordable, and inclusive digital innovation plays a transformative role in building societies that are age-responsive, equitable, and resilient. At the same time, digital transformation presents common challenges—ranging from digital skill gaps to governance of emerging technologies—that require coordinated regional responses. governed, affordable, and inclusive digital innovation plays a transformative role in building societies that are age responsive, equitable, and resilient.
The side event will explore cross-regional perspectives and shared priorities, with a focus on:
- Closing digital divides and ensuring universal, affordable, and meaningful connectivity.
- Strengthening digital public services, including digital public infrastructure that is inclusive and interoperable.
- Advancing responsible and peoplecentred AI, including shared principles for AI governance and data protection.
- Enhancing digital resilience and cybersecurity, particularly for vulnerable populations and small-scale digital eco systems.
- Promoting coordinated digital innovation policies to support SDG acceleration and age inclusive development across the region.
Through these thematic areas, the event will serve as a bridge between CS80’s analytical findings and CS82’s forward-looking agenda.
Objectives
The side event aims to deliver:
A jointly identified set of priority areas for cross regional cooperation on digital innovation.
An initial roadmap for coordinated actions, outlining areas where regional organisations can collaborate on shared challenges and solutions.
Proposals for potential pilot initiatives that ESCAP may facilitate to foster cross regional learning, capacity building, and policy coherence.
Enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened networks among regional organisations, supporting ongoing engagement beyond CS82.