APAC countries endorse masterplan to develop regional broadband
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Countries in the region additionally recognized the need to develop STI policy priorities and focus areas to effectively harness its potential towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The inaugural Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), endorsed the Master Plan and Regional Cooperation Framework Document for the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway which aims to establish and strengthen a regional network between land and undersea-based ICT infrastructure.
The Committee highlighted the importance of ensuring that those most vulnerable are not left behind in the region’s innovation and technology revolution.
“Through this Committee we have built a solid foundation from which we as a region can harness science, technology and innovation to together meet the ambitions of the SDGs,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in her closing remarks at the Committee. ■