IDA-Korea Workshop on Innovation and Digital Technology in the Post-Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant role of digital technologies in various aspects of life – from ensuring continuity of government and businesses to provision of individual health care and education. In a short period of time, the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation at an unprecedented pace, and there is no turning back. 

Developing countries will need to harness the potential of digital transformation to accelerate development progress, build a resilient recovery, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth. The digital agenda will also require ambitious efforts to mitigate the risks related to the digital era, including the risk of exclusion and the digital divide between and within countries.

To explore this new digital agenda, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea and the World Bank jointly organized the International Development Association (IDA)-Korea Workshop on Innovation and Digital Technology in a Post-Pandemic World. IDA is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries. It is one of the largest sources of assistance for these countries.

Organized as an open event, the IDA-Korea Technology Workshop conveyed the importance of innovation and digital technology in overcoming the global pandemic that threatens to undermine key development progress made to date. It discussed the promise and challenges of the digital economy for IDA countries, and international partnerships on technology in the post-COVID era.