Online Platforms as Drivers of Inclusive Growth

Part 1 - Lead Organizer

 

Contact Person

Ryan Rahardjo

Organization / Affiliation (Please state "Individual" if appropriate)

Google

Designation

Public Affairs Lead SEA

Gender

Male

Economy of Residence

Singapore

Primary Stakeholder Group

Private Sector

 

Part 2 - Session Proposal

Your proposal is for

Main Conference (Day 1-3)

Session Title

Online Platforms as Drivers of Inclusive Growth

Track

Inclusion

Session Format

Panel Discussion

Where do you plan to organize your session?

Virtual / online

Specific Issues for Discussion

The Asia Foundation and Google propose a paper presentation and panel discussion at the 2021 Pacific Internet Governance Forum that will focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by the rise of the platform economy. The paper will highlight a number of case studies and examples of new use-cases for online platforms in connected Asia. The panel discussion - which will include subject matter experts from The Asia Foundation and Google, government officials, civil society representatives, and researchers from the APEC Policy Support Unit - will explore the paper’s findings, highlight areas where development outcomes are enhanced by online platforms, and how new challenges can be addressed. Online platforms are delivering cost savings, efficiency, and value creation that can be leveraged to achieve an array of positive development goals from inclusive economic growth, to improved health and welfare of marginalized populations, to women’s empowerment.

Describe the Relevance of Your Session to APrIGF

The session will highlight the potential role of the platform economy as a driver of development and mechanism for supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by the international community in 2016. In addition, the session will highlight areas where efforts to achieve regional development objectives are most likely to be amplified by the emergence of platform business models. The influence of platforms across a range of specific sectors - including SME growth, financial inclusion, the promotion of rural agriculture, education, women’s safety and security, and healthcare - will be highlighted through analysis and platform case studies drawn from the Asia region. We will also explore conditions on the ground in APAC that may inhibit inclusive, digitally-led growth, such as physical infrastructure challenges which limit connectivity in the region; shortages of skilled human capital necessary to promote creative, locally-driven digital-first solutions; the relationship between adequate levels of competition and local innovation; and access to cloud computing infrastructure that offer faster paths to local R&D - particularly in the area of development-focused big data, AI, and machine-learning initiatives. These issues are relevant to the digital inclusive topic as the main pillar raised by APRIGF.

Methodology / Agenda

THE PRESENTATION AND FIRESIDE CHAT 60 minutes total 5-10 mins presentation 30 mins fireside chat 10-5 mins Q&A (pre-shared questions) PROPOSED PANELISTS Denis Hew - Exec Director APEC PSU Anju Mangal - Asia Regional Coordinator, WWW Foundation Anne Dunn - Online Safety Commissioner, Fiji Rodrigo Balbontin - Program Manager, Digital Economy - Asia Foundation Sylvia Cadena - Head of Programs, APNIC Foundation Andrew Ure - Head of Public Affairs - APAC** TBC

Please provide 3 subject matter tags that best describe your session.

#DIGITALINCLUSION #DIGITALADOPTION #CAPACITYBUILDING

 

Moderators & Speakers Info (Please complete where possible)

Name Designation Organization Economy of Residence Stakeholder Group Gender Status of Confirmation
Moderator (Primary) John Karr The Asia Foundation United States Civil Society Male Proposed
Moderator (Back-up)
Speaker 1 Denis Hew xec Director APEC PSU APEC PSU Male Proposed
Speaker 2 Rodrigo Balbontin Program Manager, Digital Economy The Asia Foundation Male Proposed
Speaker 3 Andrew Ure Head of Public Affairs APAC Google Male Proposed
Speaker 4 Sylvia Cadena Head of Programs APNIC Foundation Female Proposed

 

Please explain the rationale for choosing each of the above contributors to the session.

They are the experts in this field