Asia Foundation and APEC Announce Winner of APEC Digital Prosperity Award
November 10, 2021 — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) announce the winners of the fifth APEC App Challenge at the ministerial meeting in New Zealand. A joint initiative of The Asia Foundation, APEC Secretariat, and Google, this is the fifth App Challenge to spotlight talent and innovative software developers and designers from across the region.
“This problem is by no means a problem that is easy to solve, but the potential impact could be huge because international tourism represents a large chunk of GDP,” said Faisal. “If there’s a way to make it easier for nearly 1.9 billion fully vaccinated travelers in APEC to move around the region, the APEC Traveller App can facilitate that and in turn, we can help restart tourism.”
The APEC Digital Prosperity Award recognizes innovative digital products or applications that have the potential to increase prosperity and inclusive growth and is a joint initiative of APEC New Zealand and the APEC Secretariat, with support from The Asia Foundation and Google.
“Fostering an enabling environment, the APEC Digital Prosperity Award celebrates the kind of creativity that helps members solve some of the region’s most pressing challenges,” said the APEC Secretariat’s Executive Director Dr Rebecca Sta Maria.
“New and innovative digital solutions are key for the recovery of the region. These tools are helping us get back on track with respect to travel in the region, and this will drive essential economic activity going forward,” said John Karr, Senior Director for Technology Programs at The Asia Foundation. “This award reflects the talent of the youth of APEC economies and how they are shaping the recovery, promoting the vaccination campaign, and helping to digitalize the region.”
The Asia Foundation Malaysia congratulates Faisal Ariff and his team for winning the 2021 APEC Digital Prosperity Awards with the APEC Traveller App. This app addresses the need to resume tourism—an essential sector for economic recovery post-pandemic. The APEC Traveller App would make it possible for travelers to confirm their COVID vaccination status at APEC country border crossings and immigration checkpoints by using a QR code.
Watch a video about the 2021 APEC App Challenge:
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Eelynn Sim, Director, Strategy and Programs
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