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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:unctad.org
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:6a8fe88434f35
DTSTART:20250701T143000Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20250701T160000Z
LOCATION:Seville\, Spain
SUMMARY:FFD4 side event: Investing in the digital future - strategies for f
 inancing a sustainable and inclusive connected world 
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:Technology holds tremendous potential to deliver innovative sol
 utions that drive inclusive socio-economic development. The digital econom
 y is now a vital and rapidly expanding pillar of the global economy\, and 
 is also a key determinant for investment in the broader economy. However\,
  the benefits of digital transformation remain unevenly distributed—part
 icularly across developing countries.The Global Digital Compact\, adopted 
 by the United Nations in 2024\, highlighted the importance of closing the 
 digital divide between and within countries. This is driven by gaps in inf
 rastructure\, digital skills\, and access to essential services. Overcomin
 g these barriers requires significant investment and enhanced collaboratio
 n among governments\, the private sector\, development finance institution
 s (DFIs)\, and the UN system.The urgency of action is underscored by the w
 idening sustainable development goals (SDGs) investment gap\, which has gr
 own from USD 2.5 trillion in 2015 to USD 4 trillion annually in developing
  countries as of 2023.[1] The digital economy is a foundational enabler of
  SDG progress\, with the potential to drive inclusive growth\, enhance pro
 ductivity\, create jobs\, and improve access to essential services such as
  education\, healthcare\, and clean energy. Strategic investment in the di
 gital economy has the potential to multiply development gains across secto
 rs and regions.Realizing this potential requires targeted and scaled-up fi
 nancing. Estimates indicate that achieving universal connectivity alone wi
 ll require at least USD 1.6 trillion in infrastructure investments.[2] Add
 itionally\, a major usage gap persists—where individuals live within net
 work coverage but do not use the internet—highlighting the need for inve
 stments in affordability\, digital literacy\, and enabling policy framewor
 ks. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4
 )\, through its action areas on Domestic and International Private Busines
 s and Finance and on Science\, Technology\, Innovation\, and Capacity Buil
 ding\, presents an unprecedented opportunity to galvanize efforts to mobil
 ize digital investment.This session\, co-convened by ITU\, UNCTAD\, and UN
 ICEF\, will bring together high-level stakeholders across sectors to catal
 yze investment and policy momentum toward a more equitable digital future.
 The session will provide key insights from UNCTAD’s World Investment Rep
 ort 2025\, which examines the drivers and determinants of digital Foreign 
 Direct Investment (FDI)\, national policy frameworks for promoting and reg
 ulating international investment in the digital economy\, and the role of 
 investment policies in digital development strategies.It will also spotlig
 ht key strategies and initiatives that are successfully mobilizing resourc
 es for an inclusive digital future.By bringing together diverse stakeholde
 rs and focusing on actionable solutions\, this session aims to align globa
 l priorities and ensure that the digital economy becomes an inclusive forc
 e for sustainable development.Session ObjectivesDiscuss key findings from 
 the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025: International Investment in the D
 igital EconomyShowcase transformative\, action-oriented initiatives that a
 re creating public-private investment opportunities to advance universal a
 nd meaningful digital connectivity\, such as Giga\, a ITU–UNICEF effort 
 to connect every school to the internetExplore innovative strategies\, fin
 ancing instruments\, and enabling conditions to unlock investment and supp
 ort digital inclusionSet a forward-looking agenda for collective action to
  mobilize the financing needed for investment in the digital economy and t
 he achievement of the SDGs[1] UNCTAD World Investment Report 2023: Investi
 ng in sustainable energy for all[2] Digital Infrastructure Investment Init
 iative\, 2025https://www.itu.int/hub/publication/s-dii-diii-whitepaper-202
 5/\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/ffd4-side-eve
 nt-investing-digital-future-strategies-financing-sustainable-and-inclusive
DTSTAMP:20260827T073428Z
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