The Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) initiative, launched under ESCAP resolutions 71/10 (2015)[1] and further supported by resolutions 75/7 (2019),[2] and 79/10 (2023),[3] continues to promote regional multistakeholder ICT partnerships, fostering inclusive digital transformation through enhanced cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, digital technology applications, and digital data.
With the current Action Plan 2022–2026 nearing its completion, and in alignment with the terms of reference[4] of the APIS Steering Committee - which states that “at the end of the 5-years implementation period of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway action plan, the governance structure and terms of reference will be reviewed and assessed at the Steering Committee,” this step-by-step guide aims to outline the processes to assist with the members of the informal drafting group on negotiating and finalising the action plan (2027-2030).
In June 2025, the ESCAP secretariat invited nominations from members and associate members of ESCAP to an informal drafting group tasked with developing and finalizing the APIS action plan 2027-2030. The final draft will be submitted to the APIS Steering Committee at its ninth session in November 2025 for consideration and approval, and subsequently submitted to the Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Science, Technology, and Innovation at its fifth session for adoption in September 2026.
[1] ESCAP Resolution 79/10 (2015). Available at: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3882364?v=pdf
[2] ESCAP Resolution 75/7(2019). Available at: https://docs.un.org/en/ESCAP/RES/75/7
[3] ESCAP Resolution 79/10 (2023). Available at: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/event/documents/ESCAP_RES_79_10
[4] Annex IV, ESCAP/CICTSTI/2022/INF/1
