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Creating
the Future Today : America in the 21ST Century
The future
of the Region is being determined in large measure by the way
the Latin American and Caribbean countries deploy information
and communication technology today to achieve their development
objectives.
The countries
in Latin America and the Caribbean are involved in strengthening
their capacity to expand their knowledge-based economy according
to their respective values, needs, conditions, resources and aspirations.
Growth of a knowledge-based economy is emerging as a strategic
component in carrying out a democratic process of efficient, equitable
and sustainable development.
Countries
throughout the Region are creating today the America of the twenty-first
century. This theme reflects the recognition that the deployment
today of information and communication technology significantly
shapes what Latin America and Caribbean will be like during the
twenty-first century. Much is at stake in the way the Region seizes
this new opportunity. More than anything else, at stake is the
capacity of the countries in the Region to create their own future.
The countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing a transition
in terms of their approach to information and communication technology
for development. The economic, social and political reforms of
recent years have provided incentives for increasing access to
information and the deployment of information and communication
technology. Now a comprehensive approach involving the deployment
of these technologies is needed to strengthen the reforms. A wealth
of experience has been accumulated but it must be leveraged in
order to have a significant impact in achieving development objectives,
including overcoming poverty and "planting new seeds" to replace
the corrupt and unjust roots of socioeconomic inequality.
As part of
this transition, a shared vision is coming into focus among the
21st century leaders in the Region. A common vision is important
because it facilitates a collective approach while encouraging
diverse efforts by countries to achieve their respective visions.
Countries
in Latin America and the Caribbean countries are creating the
future today through the application of information technology
in the three intersectoral areas mentioned previously. These areas
are described in the following paragraphs:
New
Economy and Development( Participate
in the New Economy Forum)
The diffusion
of information and communications technology is changing the way
the economy operates and, some say, challenging economists to
reconsider some of their basic premises. Whether this is actually
a new economy or if it is just that information and communications
technology force us to become conscious of what has been true
all along will be much debated. Regardless of how this controversy
is resolved, if it ever is, one thing is undeniable: the conditions
of development have changed. More importantly, the question of
whether or not the new economy will have a positive or negative
impact on Latin America and the Caribbean depends on what adjustments
to the new conditions the Region decides are necessary to meet
development objectives. The Bank has been taking steps to promote
consideration of this issue among staff and among specialists
from beneficiary countries.
Private sector
incentives are crucial for a dynamic and pluralistic information
sector of the economy as well as for a competitive information
industry and information marketplace to expand in Latin America
and the Caribbean. One of the objectives in this area is to increase
the capacity of the Region to add value to local resources and,
thereby, create and distribute new wealth. The Division is promoting
activities in the following areas:
- Micro,
small and medium-sized information enterprises
- Electronic
commerce
- Rural
Renaissance (deploying information and communication technology
to provide services - in addition to efforts to improve - agricultural
productivity)
- Regional
Integration of the Information Sector
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Creating
Human Capital: Lifelong Learning in the Knowledge Economy Participate
in the Human Capital Forum
In response
to the increasing demand for learning opportunities, public, private
and civil society organizations are offering a variety of environments
(classroom, workplace, and community center). New techniques such
as distance learning, methods, forms of funding such as vouchers,
alternative uses of time and space are challenging traditional
approaches of accreditation, construction, curriculum design and
the training of learning agents (i.e., teachers, professors, trainers).
Increasingly, human development provides a more relevant and comprehensive
framework for formulating strategies and designing Bank-funded
projects that expand access to quality learning opportunities.
This context involves and underscores the importance of current
returns in primary, secondary and university education.
The Division
is promoting activities in the following areas:
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Digital
Democracy (Participate in the Digital Democracy Forum)
In essence,
the reforms in the Region are part of an ongoing effort to build
trust in defining the terms of a social contract among the diverse
groups that make up the society in each country.
New forms
of dialogue and collaboration among public, private and civil
society organizations enhance transparency and accountability
that can assist in creating conditions of fair and open competition
and expanding access so that everyone can participate in and benefit
from the expanding knowledge-based economy.
"Digital Democracy"
is a phrase that is evolving to link efforts in the growing area
of e-government - re-engineering the public sector using information
technology - with strengthening the capacity and the credibility
to formulate policies and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks
for expansion of efficient, equitable and sustainable growth of
a knowledge-based economy.
Countries
committed to public sector modernization and the use of information
technologies may be better positioned to dialogue with the private
sector and civil society to formulate policies that promote information
sector competition and increase access.
The Division
is promoting activities in the following areas:
At the IDB
Annual Meeting during March 2000 in New Orleans, the Information
Technology for Development Division (ICT) organized a seminar
program on "America XXI: Information Technology for Efficient,
Equitable and Sustainable Development." This program addressed
the three areas mentioned previously - new economy, human capital
and digital democracy. These topics have also been the focus at
other seminars organized by the Division in Costa
Rica, Jamaica
and Mercosur.
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