OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2016. Today’s World Development Report from the World Bank powerfully demonstrates the digital dividends for nations and people available from the expanding use of digital technologies. It should serve as a wakeup call for leaders and institutions committed to the economic and social advancement of the world to invest in the development of the digital economy and people’s ability to use it.

For the 60 percent of the world’s population that lacks access to the internet, reaping the benefits of the digital revolution is difficult or impossible. But what this report makes clear is that expanding connectivity is necessary but not sufficient. To fully realize the economic and social benefits from the digital dividend requires a technology environment that fosters competition among businesses, adapts workers’ skills to the demands of the new economy, and ensures that institutions are accountable.

This is a global challenge. Meeting it requires a global partnership and leadership that leverages the talent and creativity of everyone – public and private, bilateral and multilateral – to ensure everyone benefits from the digital revolution.

With this in mind, the U.S. Department of State has launched the Global Connect Initiative to promote and support action from key stakeholders, including governments, industry, civil society, and the technical community, to help bring an additional 1.5 billion people online by 2020. We look forward to hosting a high level multi-stakeholder conference at the Department of State in Washington, DC to bring greater international attention and support for bridging the digital divide. The conference will be held on the margins of the World Bank/IMF meeting in April 2016.