Key Points
As richer parts of the world become increasingly adept at leveraging digital technology for value creation, theLDCs risk falling further behind...
In recognition of this dilemma, the 2030 Agenda set an ambitious target (SDG 9c) aimed at achieving universal and affordable access to the internet in the LDCs by 2020..
The year 2020 has come and gone, but the target remains unmet, except for in Bangladesh and recently-graduated Bhutan..
Moreover, theDigital Trade for Africainitiative jointly launched by the WTO and the World Bank on the margins of the 13thMinisterial Conference of the WTO last month in Abu Dhabi could be a game-changer for many African LDCs..
Similarly, a competition policy aimed at telecom companies cansignificantly reduce cost, as seen in LDCs like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia and Nepal, which are among the top 25 cheapest countries for mobile data..
