Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
BIMP-EAGA envisions a single ICT-enabled community with world-class connectivity and infrastructure, skilled professionals, and an environment that encourages technological innovations. Developing the information and communication technology (ICT) sector can help reduce poverty, raise productivity, and spur economic growth.
A skilled workforce, infrastructure, and strong partnerships between and among governments, academe, and the private sector have hastened the development of the ICT sector in the subregion. However, it needs to address outdated policies, lack of awareness of ICT’s benefits, and development gaps among member economies. Competition among service providers has also affected access, affordability, and quality of ICT services.
To develop the sector, BIMP-EAGA is taking action in the following areas:
- Improve ICT infrastructure to enhance connectivity and expand reach and access, especially in rural areas.
- Promote e-commerce. BIMP-EAGA wants to develop an e-commerce cooperation framework for building reliable and affordable ICT infrastructure and services; logistics and trade facilitation; e-commerce education and awareness; capacity building; policy support, advocacy, and coordination; and information sharing, among others.
- Identify ICT human resource development needs of the socio-cultural education, agriculture, trade facilitation, and tourism sectors.
- Develop ICT entrepreneurship, products, and services. BIMP-EAGA will continue to set up business incubation schemes to support technopreneurs, start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises.