Towards a Central Asia-as-a Platform Strategy and a Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development
Working paper analysing digital readiness, policies, strategies and initiatives
Description
The “Towards a Central Asia-as-a-Platform Strategy and a Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development” working paper sought to promote discussions among government officials, experts and regional stakeholders in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia on the digital readiness of each country. The subjects covered included the impact of global trends, and the digital policies, strategies and initiatives in place to respond to these trends, which were presented in three sections: key global and regional trends in the digital transformation, national and subnational digital initiatives, and the rationale of the Central Asia-as-a-Platform Strategy. In the field of digital agriculture, the document presents a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of how digital technologies could be leveraged to transform agriculture in Central Asia.
Technology
The working paper references numerous knowledge platforms, such as the Green Policy Platform, Green Industry Platform and Green Finance Platform of the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, as virtual spaces in which communities can interact and exchange information, goods and services. The presented examples include the national DigitEl project in Kazakhstan envisaging the creation of ten technological platforms, namely: govtech; smart city, Industry 4.0; agritech; blockchain; space-geotech; artificial intelligence (AI); e-industry; fintech and Greentech; Central Asia’s first AI laboratory; established in Tajikistan, targeting the transformation of the country into a regional hub for machine learning education and entrepreneurship; and the World Bank’s Digital Central Asia–South Asia (CASA) programme targeting the improvement of broadband internet connectivity and the integration of the region’s digital infrastructure.
Target
The main users of the resource have been the public sector through its access to information about the digital initiatives being applied in the six countries; civil society organizations, which can use it to guide their digital transformation activities; and the private sector, which can benefit from the new ideas and promoted technologies.
Impact
The study has supported the development of a digital transformation strategy for Central Asia, and the unification of the region through the creation of a platform where high-level decision-makers can contribute to the development of a joint digital strategy and take action towards the creation of a better future for all.
Four Betters
Better production
Better environment
