Introduction

The Lower Mekong Region—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam—has seen significant social, economic, and technological growth in recent years. An increase in internet connectivity and access has brought millions of people online, accelerating connections and making services more accessible through digital solutions. While tech innovation and transformation are still nascent in the region, social internet platforms are widespread, economic- and financial-inclusion technologies are proliferating, e-government solutions are underway, and digital public infrastructure is seeing investment from governments and organizations operating in the region.

However, the greatest barriers to the deployment and governance of modern digital infrastructure in the region continue to be concerns surrounding human rights, trust in government, inclusion, access to information, and economic mobility. Limited digital literacy, skill levels, and access hinder the growth of the region’s digital ecosystem. Regulatory regimes are underdeveloped and vary between countries, but they generally show increasingly authoritarian approaches to digital governance. The region’s potential for responsible digital solutions, international cooperation, and investment is limited and complicated by various geopolitical interests vying for influence.

This report was written as a resource for stakeholders supporting digital solutions development and deployment to maximize social and economic advancement. It covers major topics, including factors affecting the development, deployment, and use of digital solutions—such as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, digital connectivity and access, and legal and regulatory governance. In addition, it provides a brief landscape of the region’s digital environment by providing overviews of foundational digital elements like human capacity, digital literacy, innovation culture, social media and messenger app usage, financial technologies, digital public infrastructure, and regional cooperation on digital technology. The report concludes with actionable recommendations for a more people-centered digital transformation in the Lower Mekong Region.