Bringing together public and private sector actors from across the Asia-Pacific region, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) co-organized an online regional policy dialogue together with UNDP, UNESCAP, and Citi Foundation on August 8, 2022. Under the theme of ‘Building Inclusive Digital Economies through Innovation and Public-Private Partnerships’, the Cityprenueurs, the Ventures, Impact Collective, Youth Co:Lab, A2i Bangladeshi, ADBI, NISA ROK supported and participate d the dialogue.

The first segment explored examples of digital inclusion policies and initiatives implemented in different country contexts including the Republic of Korea and Bangladesh. Mr. Seong-Jun Min, Team Lead of Digital Inclusion Planning Team, Department of Digital Inclusion, National Information Society Agency, Republic of Korea, provided an overview of the Republic of Korea’s digital inclusion policy, and highlighted some examples of key initiatives to promote digital economic inclusion.

Mr. Tohurul Hasan, Digital Financial Service Specialist, ICT Division, Ministry of ICT, Bangladesh, introduced the a2i (‘Aspire to Innovate’) programme implemented by the government of Bangladesh and UNDP to promote financial inclusion of marginalized populations including women by leveraging digital technologies. Mr. Jonathan Wong, Chief of Technology & Innovation, UNESCAP, provided an overview of UNESCAP’s strategies on building inclusive digital economies, along with policy examples from the Northeast Asian region.

The ensuing session showcased innovative solutions to build inclusive digital economies, with a focus on the role of the private sector. Mr. Peter J. Morgan, Senior Consulting Economist and Advisor to the Dean, The Asian Development Bank Institute, explained how the digital Yuan, a digital currency being developed by the People’s Bank of China, could contribute to financial inclusion and financial stability in the People’s Republic of China.

Ms. Eunielle Yi, Partner, Impact Collective by The Ventures (venture capital), Republic of Korea, shared the experience and insights of a venture capital that promotes the growth of social startups and ventures, by leveraging innovative investment models and technology for impact. Mr. Nofi Bayu Darmawan, Founder & CEO, Komerce (e-commerce start-up), Indonesia, provided an example of how a social startup can contribute to the inclusion of rural youth in the digital economy by connecting them with MSMEs in the e-commerce sector in Indonesia through skills training.