India – In a bid to promote broadband growth in the country, the government is planning to link all the gram panchayats and rural areas through optical fibre cable network. Addressing the 11th National Summit e-governance and Digital India inclusive growth through digital empowerment by ASSOCHAM, Bharat Net chairman & MD Aruna Sundarajan said that the country was entering into a new era of digital empowerment. “Our digital project is a giant leap to bridge the digital divide between urban and the rural India by linking all the gram panchayats in the country through the common platform of optical fibre cable. Our vision is to transform our country into a knowledge economy.” … The vision of Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Link
Alaska – It’s been less than two weeks since Jim Johnsen took the helm as president of the University of Alaska. And the transition in leadership is coming at a time when the university system is attempting to streamline and rethink the way it operates. Johnsen sees an opportunity amid the dark cloud of declining state funding and budget cuts throughout the University of Alaska system. “We play the single-most important role in creating a knowledge economy in Alaska,” he said. “And, so when I look long term, that’s the bright light that I’m looking at.” He sees that knowledge economy playing a pivotal role in helping Alaska diversify an economy that has been primarily based around oil. Link
Africa-Japan – The three-day Africa-Japan Business and Investment Forum continues today with presentations on issues related to quality infrastructure for Africa’s structural transformation; special dialogue on Africa-Japan partnership; financing for growth; creating a knowledge economy; building and expanding Africa’s trade gateways; creating sustainable solutions in the energy sector; shifting the paradigm from development to agriculture led-growth. Link