About AP-IS
Since 2016, the ESCAP secretariat has been promoting the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative (AP-IS). As a region-wide intergovernmental platform, AP-IS aims to bridge the digital divide and accelerate digital transformation by promoting digital connectivity, digital technology and data use in the Asia Pacific region.
In particular, this AP-IS platform:
Today, as the world is dealing with the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming increasingly evident that countries invested in ICT energy and transport infrastructure and whose people and businesses are better connected, including through digital platforms are progressing better than others. Weak connectivity is causing an economic slowdown, limiting internal and cross-border freight and passenger operations, trade, and transits.
The on-going pandemic of COVID-19 has shown the great extent with which we rely upon the digital services to sustain our normal existence.
The same services during the time of need can transform into a source of innovation and hope, and become powerful tools to manage hazard and exposure. While there is a little doubt that our recovery effort success with leaving no one behind will depend on the reliable, high quality, accessible and affordable digital services and the underlying ICTs.
Partnership Portal on Co-deployment is aimed to support ICT infrastructure co-deployment with road transport and energy infrastructure. The web- portal provides developers and owners of ICT, road and energy infrastructure and other stakeholders an opportunity:
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with economic, social and environmental uncertainties, has brought to the fore new digital divides and development inequalities in the Asia-Pacific region. The pandemic has also highlighted the growing importance of digitalization and digital connectivity - across the entire development spectrum.