DIGITAL ASIA

摘要

Asia is in transition - and when talk turns to the region's adoption of digital technologies, it is easy to be impressed by the numbers. Whether the number of mobile subscribers, the growth of broadband networks, or the use of social media, Asia consistently tops the list. But of far more interest is how such digital technologies contribute to economic and social development. In a recent study covering five Asian economies -India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Vietnam - we found much to learn from the approaches being adopted in both developed and emerging nations. Countries here are moving from an internet economy towards a fully digital one, increasingly relying upon the internet as a core part of the infrastructure underlaying the economy. What this means is that, in addition to the exciting and disruptive developments within what we think of as the 'tech sector', many traditional sectors are in the midst of transformation and rejuvenation via the internet and, with it, are fostering economy-wide growth and innovation.