Digital development was on the agenda this week in Canberra at a meeting of the EU-Australia leadership forum, a three year knowledge sharing project. Experts discussed recommendations for a forthcoming paper aimed at informing collaborative digital development projects targeting Pacific nations.
Digital technology is increasingly becoming an enabler of development, Stefano Manservisi, director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, said in remarks to the forum. It was a commentary supported by Tobias Feakin, Australia’s new ambassador for Cyber Affairs. But stakeholders can use a range of programming and policies to ensure that technology does not create barriers between rich and poor.