The World Bank (World Bank) on Monday introduced a new strategy to improve access to digital technology and reduce related costs in developing countries. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, stated in a press release: “Digital technology can help developing countries create jobs and use scarce resources more efficiently.” He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach in this area that includes creating reliable access, providing accessible devices, and offering digital skills and useful services.
Economic Challenges and the Need for Jobs
The World Bank stated in its report that developing countries face significant challenges regarding limited resources and an increasing need for jobs. According to forecasts, in the coming years, about 1.2 billion people in these countries will reach working age, while the economies of these regions can only create about 420 million jobs. This gap between need and job creation capacity highlights the necessity of designing and implementing effective strategies.
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Goals of the New Strategy
The World Bank's new strategy aims to strengthen communication infrastructure, reduce costs for entry-level smartphones and high-speed internet services, expand access to digital services, and explore targeted applications of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the bank, only 23 percent of people in low-income countries have access to the internet, while this figure rises to 94 percent in high-income countries. This significant disparity clearly demonstrates the need to focus on digital access in developing countries.
The World Bank hopes that by implementing this strategy, not only will access to digital technology increase, but also the economic conditions of these countries will improve, providing more job opportunities for the younger generation. Given the increasing demand for digital skills in the job market, this approach could serve as a means to reduce unemployment rates and strengthen economic growth in these regions.
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