The following quotations have been edited slightly

The Digital Review of Asia-Pacific offers a refreshing take on the multifaceted links between ICT and development. One of its most appealing features — reflecting the spirit of the WSIS process — is the diverse background of the experts contributing to the Review. In its latest edition (2009-2010), the main focus is on ICT and education, an area in need of more attention. Policymakers, scholars, and business leaders, as well as representatives of civil society, would be well advised to sign up for a copy. Monitoring developments in the heterogeneous and populous Asia Pacific is of great relevance to readers both within the region itself and beyond. Torbjörn Fredriksson, OIC, ICT Analysis Section, UNCTAD

What are the important elements for ICT development in the Asia Pacific region? How can the public and private sector contribute towards ICT development? What are the legal aspects of ICT? What are the emerging trends?

To answer all these questions and more, some 50 ICT experts from more than 30 countries in the region came together in Singapore to brainstorm and network.

ICTs have enabled education to cross over into a new paradigm that has also at the same time, brought to the fore new problems and new issues, for example, the increasing overlaps between ICT uses for education and training in formal and non-formal contexts, the impact of transnational education, the emergence of oligopolies in e-learning. On the other side, human capital development through education is the key to ICT development.

While celebrating the launching of the Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2007/2008 edition in December in Kuala Lumpur, participants were invited to invest money in different areas that they considered as important for engagement to influence change. The result was: Put more money in education!

Associate Editor Patricia Arinto holding the new edition at GK3. See a gallery of images from the launch here.

The completely updated edition of the Digital Review of Asia Pacific contains authoritative reports on how 31 economies are using ICT in business, government and civil society written by senior authors who live and work in the region. Included are two subregional chapters on ASEAN and APEC.