SEOUL, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Addressing the pressing need for digital inclusion and economic growth, the World Bank Group introduced its inaugural digital strategy on Tuesday. The initiative aims to assist emerging nations in broadening affordable digital access, enhancing service quality, and generating new employment prospects. This comprehensive plan integrates the institution’s strengths in both public and private sectors into a unified framework. The rollout took place in Seoul on October 20 during the group’s Global AI and Digital Summit, with co-hosts including South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy and Ministry of Science and ICT.
The strategy highlights four key areas of focus for the upcoming years. The first involves expanding dependable connectivity, covering everything from international submarine cables to local networks servicing households, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. The second emphasizes making entry-level smartphones and data plans more affordable. The third concentrates on digital services and skills development, such as digital identification, payments, and job-related training programs. The fourth aims to equip nations with the necessary infrastructure to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence. Throughout all these efforts, safeguards related to privacy, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention are prioritized.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, emphasized that digital technology can be a powerful tool for job creation and resource optimization in developing countries. He noted that unlocking this potential requires a holistic approach, including reliable internet, affordable devices, and accessible services. Banga also highlighted that the strategy aligns these elements, making them accessible to client nations. Additionally, he promoted what he calls small AI, referring to AI designed for local communities, which relies on local data, languages, and cost-effective technologies rather than expensive large models.
Growing employment gap in developing nations highlights urgency
The unveiling of this strategy coincides with a period of resource limitations and increasing employment demands in many developing economies. Over the next 10 to 15 years, approximately 1.2 billion young individuals will enter the workforce in these regions, yet their economies are expected to generate only around 420 million jobs during that time frame. The World Bank Group advocates digital tools as a viable solution to help bridge this widening gap, asserting that technology can enable businesses to reach broader markets, increase productivity, and secure financing more easily.
The bank envisions digital innovations supporting employment across its five main sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing. Moreover, digital systems have the potential to reduce costs associated with delivering public services. The strategy consolidates financing, policy guidance, private sector investments, and guarantees, providing a foundation for collaboration with governments, tech companies, development partners, and philanthropic organizations. In recent years, multilateral lenders have increased their direct financing to developing economies.
Billions still offline as AI development begins
Despite progress, significant barriers to digital access persist, according to the World Bank Group. In 2025, over 2 billion people worldwide remained offline. Internet usage stands at only 23% in low-income nations compared to 94% in high-income countries. Many individuals live within network coverage but cannot afford smartphones or data plans, while others lack digital literacy or access to essential services tailored to their needs.
Alongside the digital strategy, the group announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative. This program aims to assist governments in emerging markets by providing affordable, shared GPU infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis, offering an alternative to constructing separate national data centers. Knowledge partners such as Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA are involved in the initiative, which will initially target Africa and Latin America, with the goal of applying small AI effectively and productively in these regions.