Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, praised India’s digitalization initiatives for their role in driving development and reducing poverty. He highlighted that over the past five to six years, smartphones have enabled 800 million people in India to escape poverty by facilitating easy access to financial services and accelerating economic participation.
Speaking at a lecture hosted by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Francis emphasized that digital tools have empowered rural populations to conduct transactions, pay bills, and receive payments directly through smartphones, connecting millions to the formal economy for the first time. He noted that nearly every person in India now has a cellphone, underscoring the transformative reach of mobile technology in the country.
Francis framed these achievements within the broader context of efforts to achieve Zero Hunger for current and future generations, stressing that digitalization has been a key driver of inclusive economic progress. However, he cautioned that similar access to digital tools is lacking in many other parts of the Global South. Promoting digital equity, he argued, is essential to bridging these gaps and ensuring fair participation in the global digital economy.
He also noted that India’s digitization drive, particularly under the Narendra Modi government, has significantly expanded digital payment systems. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as a major contributor, enabling seamless financial transactions and supporting the economic empowerment of millions across the country.
