By Helen Okechukwu, JKNewsMedia Reporter
EXPANDING INTERNET connectivity, reducing the cost of digital devices and improving access to online services are central to a new World Bank (WB) strategy designed to help developing countries create jobs and maximise the benefits of digital technology.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that WB President, Ajay Banga, said digital technology could help countries generate employment and make limited resources go further, but achieving those benefits would require a comprehensive approach.
“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further,” Banga said.
“Realising that potential requires a comprehensive approach, from reliable connectivity and affordable devices to digital skills and useful services,” he added in a statement.
The Washington-headquartered institution said developing countries faced mounting pressure from limited resources and growing employment needs.
Over the next 10 to 15 years, about 1.2 billion people in developing countries are expected to reach working age, while their economies are projected to generate only around 420 million jobs.
The bank’s strategy seeks to address some of these challenges by supporting connectivity infrastructure and lowering the cost of entry-level smartphones and broadband services.
It also aims to expand access to digital services and explore targeted applications of artificial intelligence.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the WB highlighted a significant gap in internet access between low-income and high-income countries, with only 23 per cent of people in low-income countries using the internet, compared with 94 per cent in high-income economies.
It added that the strategy places affordable connectivity and broader digital access at the centre of efforts to help developing countries harness technology for employment and more effective use of scarce resources.
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