Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Khalid Taimur Akram received the "Best Paper Presentation Award" at the 4th Tsinghua Area Studies Forum, held in at Tsinghua University, Beijing China.

His research on harnessing the digital economy for inclusive growth in the Global South stood out among submissions from over 100 countries, earning international recognition at one of the world’s most prominent academic gatherings on global development and international relations, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday. About 250 scholars and experts from 100 countries participated in the three-day conference from 2nd to 4th July.

The conference, themed "Beyond Regions: Emerging Issues for the Global South", featured diverse discussions on critical global challenges. The Pakistani expert spoke in a panel titled "Economic Inequality and Governance", part of the broader track on "Economic Development: New Pathways and Future Prospects for the Global South".

In his award-winning presentation, Akram emphasized the digital economy's potential to drive inclusive growth in the Global South. He highlighted the necessity of combining technological advancements with robust policy, infrastructure, and human capital development.

He also underscored key lessons from digital business case studies, advocating for strategic investments, human capital growth, and innovation-supportive regulations, alongside consumer protection. It also addressed concerns like the digital divide and the need for collaborative efforts to ensure equitable distribution of digitalization's benefits.

The 4th Tsinghua Area Studies Forum featured a series of thematic panels addressing key issues facing the Global South. Panel discussions covered a wide range of topics, including the interplay between geopolitics and domestic politics, economic development with a focus on trade, investment, and sustainable growth, and social challenges such as inequality, health governance, and digital sovereignty.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China