Information policies in Asia
UNESCO presents a broad definition of information policy consisting of the collection of policies and strategies to promote the development of an information-based society. How well an individual, an organization, and an entire society can harness, access, share, and make use of available information will ultimately decide their ability to generate economic growth and to enhance the quality of life for all.
Great emphasis is placed on interaction between governments and citizens in democratic societies where information emerges as a critical citizen resource. The conception of enlightened information policies, creation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) infrastructure, and widespread deployment of new media by governments, have the potential of facilitating this interaction cost-effectively to meet the obligations of responsive and transparent governance in emerging knowledge societies.
The need for building a knowledge-based society requires significant contributions from its stakeholders – governments, communities, businesses, civil society and international organizations among others. The role of policy makers is critical because it involves an ability to assess the demands of the stakeholders objectively, equitably and cost-effectively, and, above all, create systems of governance that ensure stability, predictability, rule of law, and fair competition that open up avenues for investments from the private sector and international organizations.
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