The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a new technical
assistance project covering the Asia and Pacific region, including
Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.
According to the bank, the initiative titled “Connectivity
Opportunities through Resilience, Infrastructure, Data, and Open
Regulatory Systems in the Region (CORRIDOR)” aims to strengthen
regional digital integration.
Alongside Azerbaijan, the project will involve Bangladesh,
Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, the
Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
and Vietnam.
The $1 million technical assistance program financed by the ADB
is designed to support the development of secure, inclusive, and
interoperable digital infrastructure across the region. It will
serve as an operational mechanism for the Asia-Pacific Digital
Highway (APDH) initiative.
The project envisions the development of fiber-optic networks,
data centers, cloud services, and digital public infrastructure, as
well as the digitalization of cross-border trade, the establishment
of “smart border” systems, and the creation of unified frameworks
for cybersecurity and data governance.
It will also support the harmonization of digital policies among
participating countries, the development of technology innovation
ecosystems, and the application of artificial intelligence-based
solutions.
The ADB noted that the main goal of the initiative is to help
participating countries develop investment-ready digital corridor
models, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacity. Gender
equality and inclusiveness have also been identified as key
priorities of the project.