Digital economy can foster growth and bridge divide

Although substantial progress has been made in internet expansion, more efforts are needed to bridge the digital divide among countries and regions, given that nearly half of the global population still does not have access to the internet, officials and experts said at the Fifth World Internet Conference on Thursday.

Viviane Reding, former vice-president of the European Commission, said digital technologies are becoming an integral part of everyday life for many people.

Over the past decade, Europe has substantially reduced the digital divide, but the gap remains far from being closed, said Reding, who is now a member of Luxembourg's parliament.