For the hundreds of millions of persons in Asia under the poverty line, the equally huge amounts of development aid, soft loans or technical assistance dispensed by the international donor community seems to have little direct impact on their everyday lives, because what they really need to possibly transform their existence is a meagre investment that nevertheless seems beyond realistic reach.

By examining the experience to date in the largest countries in Asia, experts have begun to draw lessons on the ability of the revolution in information technology to fulfil its proclaimed potential in bridging the “digital divide” between affluent and poverty-stricken portions of society.

While they continue to massively support the American currency, Asian central banks have also been reported as having increased their stake in the euro in recent month, according to a European Central Bank survey.