A Model for Global Transformation
The President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has highlighted the transformative power of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in driving social progress and ensuring equal opportunities. He specifically commended India's trajectory as a prime example of how DPI can empower citizens and bridge the digital divide.
Digital Public Infrastructure, Transformative Technology for Citizens' organized by India's Permanent Mission to the UN, emphasized the importance of inclusive access to DPI. He noted that India's DPI model has achieved over 80% financial inclusion for its citizens and accounts for more than 60% of all digital transactions worldwide. This success story, he argued, demonstrates the potential of DPI to dismantle barriers and empower individuals, particularly the most vulnerable.
Francis also acknowledged the need to address the digital divide, with approximately three billion people still lacking internet access. He expressed hope that the ongoing Inter-Governmental process of developing a Global Digital Compact will help close this gap and expand digital infrastructure for a significant portion of the global population.
UN Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner echoed Francis's sentiments, praising India's leadership in harnessing technology and promoting the concept of DPI. He emphasized the need to move beyond simply being users in the digital world and embrace the role of active digital citizens.
Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's Envoy on Technology, commended India for its role in fostering global consensus on DPIs through the adoption of the G20 DPI framework. He highlighted the importance of gatherings like the Citizen Stack conference in sharing experiences and best practices from countries successfully leveraging DPI for societal transformation and economic growth.
The conference served as a platform to showcase India's Citizen Stack, a technology platform that provides a range of citizen services, including digital identity, payments, and open networks. This public-private partnership model has become a benchmark for nations, corporations, and startups worldwide, demonstrating the potential of DPI to drive inclusive and sustainable development.