Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), was awarded the "Best Paper Presentation Award” at the 4th Tsinghua Area Studies Forum. The forum convened at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, from July 2nd to 4th.
Akram’s research, focusing on leveraging digital economy potential for inclusive growth within the Global South, distinguished itself from entries submitted by scholars representing over 100 nations. This recognition occurred at a leading international academic conference dedicated to global development and international relations. Approximately 250 scholars and experts participated in the three-day event.
Centered on the theme "Beyond Regions: Emerging Issues for the Global South,” the forum facilitated diverse discussions on critical global challenges. Akram contributed as a speaker within the panel "Economic Inequality and Governance,” which formed part of the broader conference track "Economic Development: New Pathways and Future Prospects for the Global South.”
In his award-winning presentation, Khalid Taimur Akram underscored the digital economy’s capacity to propel inclusive growth across the Global South. He stressed the imperative of "combining technological advancements with robust policy, infrastructure, and human capital development.” Akram also highlighted crucial insights derived from digital business case studies, advocating for strategic investments, the cultivation of human capital, and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while ensuring consumer protection. His address further addressed pressing concerns such as the digital divide, emphasizing the need for collaborative initiatives to guarantee the equitable distribution of digitalization’s advantages.
The 4th Tsinghua Area Studies Forum encompassed a series of thematic panels examining key challenges confronting the Global South. Panel discussions spanned a wide spectrum of topics, including the dynamics between geopolitics and domestic politics, economic development pathways emphasizing trade, investment, and sustainable growth, and social challenges like inequality, health governance, and digital sovereignty.
