Good morning Distinguished Guests, Colleagues and Friends

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the launch of UNDP’s Regional Human Development Report for Asia–Pacific.

The timing is perfect.
This year’s Open Innovation Conference asks how we innovate in an age shaped by AI and sustainability.
And it invites us to consider not only what technology can do — but what it should do.

Earlier this year, UNDP Viet Nam launched the global Human Development Report, A Matter of Choice.
Its message is clear:
The impact of AI on human well-being is not predetermined.
It is a question of policy.
Of ethics.
And of collective choices made by people — not machines.

Today’s Regional report — The Next Great Divergence — brings that debate home to Asia and the Pacific.

It shines a light on the extraordinary opportunities offered by AI.
And the real risks.

And in this region, the stakes are high.
Asia–Pacific includes the highest and the lowest HDI performers in the world.
It is a region of immense potential — and deep inequality.

A quarter of the population is still offline.
This alone creates a dividing line.
AI can accelerate development.
But it can also amplify vulnerability.
Those prepared to harness its gains may surge ahead.
Those unable to absorb the disruptions may fall further and further behind.

Viet Nam understands the urgency of this moment.

The country’s rapid digital transformation — and its ambitious national development vision — place AI at the center of discussions about Viet Nam’s future.

AI could be the next major engine of growth.
Estimates suggest it could raise GDP by as much as 2% annually.
It can help Viet Nam advance toward its high-income status goal.

The possibilities are already visible:
Tools that diagnose disease in clinics.
Platforms that tailor learning in classrooms.
Applications that help farmers detect pests and disease — even with limited digital skills.

But the same tools carry risks.
Countries with limited capacity to manage AI disruption could lose competitiveness.
Industries vulnerable to automation may shed jobs faster than they can be replaced.
And even at the level of the individual,  AI-powered job matching is already reinforcing gender stereotypes — steering women toward lower-paid work and men toward technical roles.

We are witnessing the emergence of an AI equity gap.

And it is not driven by a single factor.
It is driven by people, by economies, and by governance systems evolving at different speeds.

First: People.
When vulnerable communities are invisible in data, they become invisible to AI.
If registries are weak, disaster-response models can save lives but if registries are weak, the algorithms may overlook those most at risk.
If languages are absent from training data, entire communities remain digitally excluded.

Second: Economies.
Countries with a high HDI and strong digital infrastructure will capture early AI gains.
Low-HDI countries may not.
Within countries, benefits arrive first in cities, in large firms, and among highly skilled workers.
Rural areas and smaller enterprises risk being left behind.

And Third: Governance.
AI can transform public administration.
But weak rules and limited capacity can also magnify errors.
Agencies with stronger data and skills will advance quickly.
Others may struggle to keep pace.

These gaps matter.
Because they shape the future of human development.

Esteemed colleagues,

Viet Nam is no exception.
AI could widen inequalities before it narrows them.

AI is advancing faster than any technology we have known.
But the question is not “how fast?”
The real question is:
Who does it serve?
And does it strengthen — or erode — the foundations of human development?

To make AI a force for equity, we need inclusive policies.
We need targeted investments.
We need responsible AI governance.
And we need a digital ecosystem that includes women, rural communities, and marginalized groups.

When the Industrial Revolution unfolded, it reshaped global power and prosperity.
It lifted some regions — and left others behind.
Will the AI revolution do the same?

It doesn’t have to.

AI should expand human capabilities — not constrain them.
It should unlock potential — not deepen divides.

That is the message of this report.
And it is the choice before all of us.

The report suggests that three principles must guide the way forward:

Put people first — by grounding innovation in human development.
Govern innovation responsibly — through clear rules, risks-based approaches, and strong accountability.
Build future-ready systems — that are resilient, sustainable, and competitive.

On behalf of UNDP, I thank you for joining us to reflect on one of the defining questions of our time:

How do we ensure that the rise of AI leaves no one behind — and no mind behind?

Let us make this moment count.
Let us ensure that AI becomes a force for equity and progress — in Viet Nam, across Asia–Pacific, and beyond.

Thank you.