Foreword

Investment in science, technology and innovation (STI) needs to be the backbone of productivity-led economic recovery and sustainable development. Despite significant increases in productivity over the past few decades, economic growth in developing economies of Asia and the Pacific has been primarily driven by factor accumulation. However, the average rate of productivity growth slowed between the periods 2000-2007 and 2008-2014 by 65 per cent, which has contributed to the current economic slowdown, potentially undermining efforts to effectively pursue the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We must revive growth in productivity and one of the keys to this is a highly-skilled labour force.

Related Subject(s): Développement économique et social