A recent report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that the development of Unified Data Highways (UDH) could unlock an economic value of $3-4 trillion annually for emerging nations by 2030. The report, titled “Unified Data Highways”, highlights the transformative potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in fostering inclusive growth, particularly in emerging economies.
Next frontier in digital public infrastructure
The report emphasizes that UDH represents the next frontier in digital public infrastructure, paving the way for responsible data sharing on a global scale. It has already demonstrated significant potential across various sectors, generating both economic and social benefits. India’s DPI initiatives, such as Aadhaar for digital identity and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for digital transactions, are cited as groundbreaking examples of how DPI can drive inclusive growth.
Other Indian programs, such as Digilocker and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, have further streamlined government services and healthcare delivery. The report notes that UDH could revolutionize sectors like agriculture, where digital advisory services are enhancing farmer productivity, and energy, where data-driven solutions optimize household energy usage.
According to the report, the value generated by UDH could account for 5-6% of emerging economies’ projected GDP annually by 2030. Saibal Chakraborty, Managing Director and Partner at BCG and the lead author of the report, stated that UDH would redefine how data is harnessed, unlocking “unprecedented economic and social benefits.” He stressed the importance of building UDH with a clear vision, supported by robust governance, innovative technology, and strong partnerships.
At the G20 2023 conference, DPI was defined as a set of shared, secure, and interoperable digital systems designed to provide equitable access to public and private services at scale. Yushi Nagano, Head of JICA’s DX Lab, highlighted the need for collaboration, sustainable models, and strong data governance to ensure UDH’s success.
The JICA-BCG report aims to guide policymakers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders in effectively leveraging UDH to unlock its full potential for economic and social development.
