The continual development of communication technology and more particularly the spread of internet services into what were once considered inaccessible regions of many developing countries is breathing new life into rural and other remote areas and refashioning perspectives for global development, a new report issued by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and titled ‘Reconsidering Rural Development’ says.

 The report, released earlier this month, places a decidedly more upbeat perspective on the likely pace of progress for the roughly 3.4 billion people living in rural and other remote areas, according to the latest World Social Report made public on Thursday May 20.

 While the Report concedes that the pace of progress in interweaving technology access into the wider development of communities that had previously been without access could be slowed down by the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, it says, nonetheless, that new technologies can play a wider overarching role in helping to end the global urban-rural divide.

 Last week, in an upbeat comment coming on the heels of the report’s release, UN Secretary-General António Gutteres asserted that the breakthrough in technology buildout had opened up fresh opportunities for rural development and a greener, more resilient future.

The article Communication technology a game-changer in urban, rural development divide: UN Report appeared first on Stabroek News.