UN forges technological cooperation to tackle COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held a two-day committee meeting focusing on how digital inclusion and resilient digital networks across the entire region are fundamental for governments to effectively mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19. A set of guidelines for inclusive technology and innovation policies for sustainable development were further tackled by the committee. On the sidelines of the meeting, the 2020 United Nations E-Government Survey conducted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) was regionally released. The survey revealed that Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, which were among the global least developed countries, have become leaders in digital government development, advancing from middle ranks to higher ranks in the 2020 E-Government Development Index.