Digital technologies and Asian and African countries

Occupation: PhD (Economics), Senior Research Fellow
Affiliation:
Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS
Institute of Asian and African Countries, Moscow Lomonosov University
Address: Russia, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 9

Pages

25-32

Abstract

The article analyzes problems of spread of digital technologies, digital transformation and development of digital economy in Asian and African countries. Different definitions of digital economy are given. The article sets the aim to assess the level of development of the digital economy in some Asian and African countries. The evaluations of digital economy development in China given by the World Economic Forum and by the Report on Internet Development in China presented at the 4th Conference on Internet in Wuzhen (China) vary. Still, China has reached a significant level of development of digital economy, in production and exports of ICT goods (digital devices and equipment), in ICT-services, in e-commerce, electronic payments and sharing economy.

Digital transformation is taking place in African countries, including development of ICT services sector, e-commerce, electronic payments, online education and digital healthcare services. The example of Senegal is quite typical for a certain group of African countries in this respect.

In countries of Africa, the virtual crypto currency - bitcoin - has also become widespread. Bitcoin is used by some Africans in the belief that by investing their modest savings into it, they can earn. At the same time, Africans estimate the development of digital transformation with a certain amount of skepticism. Sometimes they view bitcoins and digital technologies in general as a kind of magic that will allow them to transform their lives, solve many problems.

Keywords

digital technologies, digital economy, Asian and African countries, ICT goods production and exports, ICT services, e-commerce, electronic payments

Received

30.09.2018

Publication date

15.10.2018

Number of characters

27732

Cite

GOST	Tsvetkova N. Digital technologies and Asian and African countries // Asia and Africa Today – 2018. – Issue 9 C. 25-32 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750000688-8-1 (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750000688-8
MLA	Tsvetkova, Nina N "Digital technologies and Asian and African countries." Asia and Africa Today 9 (2018):25-32. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750000688-8
APA	Tsvetkova N. (2018). Digital technologies and Asian and African countries. Asia and Africa Today (9), pp.25-32 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750000688-8

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