Time of Event

Day 1: 08.30 - 17.20 (local time); 10.30 - 19.20 (Tokyo time)
Day 2: 09.30 - 17.35 (local time); 11.30 - 19.35 (Tokyo time)
Day 3:  09.00 - 17.10 (local time); 11.00 - 19.10 (Tokyo time)

Summary

Digitalization is transforming the economies and societies across developing Asia and the Pacific. This has generated significant opportunities for streamlining public and business administration, boosting e-commerce and economic growth, enhancing service delivery, and opening access to new markets and platforms. However, this shift has also produced challenges in the form of widening and persistent digital inequalities, rising tides of disinformation, and novel cyber-security and privacy risks.

Against this backdrop, the Asian Think Tank Network (ATTN) 2024: Digitalization as an Opportunity for Inclusive Growth in Asia and the Pacific will be held on 2-4 October in Jakarta, Indonesia. Co-hosted by the ADBI and key partners in the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, and the United Nations Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will explore how to effectively navigate the new terrain of technological change and innovation, and advance sustainable development in the digital era.

The event will bring together a diverse range of international policymakers, government officials, academic and think-tank experts, and private sector practitioners to discuss how to advance inclusive growth and development, expand digital trade and cooperation, and unlock the opportunities of emerging technologies.

Over the course of three days, participants will actively explore the significance of online marketplaces and financial technologies for SMEs; build technical capacity in policy planning, infrastructure investment, regulation crafting, and upskilling human capital; and improve their understanding the importance of social protection for a more equitable approach to digitalization.

Ultimately, the ATTN is designed to provide comprehensive insights into the latest developments in global and regional digital trade, enable SMEs to capitalize on the benefits of digitalization, promote a regulatory environment conducive to innovation, and deepen regional economic cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific.

Objectives

• Providing a comprehensive understanding of the drivers and dynamics of digitalization in Asia and the Pacific: enriching participants’ knowledge and broadening their awareness of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of digitalization.
• Equipping participants with illustrative examples and practical tools, drawing on country and sector approaches from across the region: sharing transferrable lessons, good practices, and emerging insights on how to foster digital education and skills, tackle digital divides,  engage in digital trade and economic cooperation, and tap into new financial technologies.
• Fostering a collaborative environment among the diverse stakeholders involved in the digital economy: bringing together international policymakers, government officials, academic experts, private sector practitioners, to facilitate knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, and the development of potential partnerships for mutual growth and advancement.

Target Participants

This workshop is designed for policymakers, government officials, academia, representatives from the private sector, and MSMEs seeking to enhance their understanding of digital trade opportunities.

How to Register

By invitation or prior arrangement with ADBI

Partners

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Center for Strategic Studies (CSIS) Indonesia
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)