数字战略的投资维度

H I G H L I G H T S Adoption of digital strategies is accelerating, but gaps persist in their integrationwith other policies.By 2024, 86 per cent of developing countries and 80 per cent ofleast developed countries (LDCs) had a national digital strategy, up from under 50 percent and 25 per cent in 2017. Although recent strategies are more comprehensive, manylack alignment with broader development, investment, industrial and environmentalpolicies. The investment promotion dimension remains limited.Many strategies addressenabling conditions, such as regulatory frameworks and infrastructure, but explicitinvestment targets and promotion measures are rare: fewer than half mention foreigndirect investment (FDI), and only 20 per cent refer to investment promotion agencies(IPAs). Environmentalsustainability is insufficiently embedded.Despite the growingenvironmentalfootprint of the digital economy—including energy use,emissions,water consumption and electronic waste—only 55 per cent of developing countries’strategies mention environmental sustainability, often in broad terms. This is notablegiven its growing importance for investment decisions, particularly in sectors such asdata centres and semiconductors. Sector-and technology-specific strategies are scarce.Strategies for artificialintelligence (AI), data centres and semiconductors can boost investment attraction byclarifying priorities, regulatory needs and, in some cases, sustainability standards, thusoffering concrete tools to mobilize investment. However, their adoption remains limited,particularly in developing countries. Regional digital strategies differ in investment focus and national uptake.Theseframeworks promote policy harmonization, interoperability and coordinated infrastructuredevelopment. However, uptake at national level is uneven, and so is their emphasis oninvestment. Aligning digital strategies with investment and sustainability objectives is key toinvestment attraction.Integrated frameworks linking digital, industrial, investment andenvironmental policies improve policy coherence and send clearer signals to investors,while supporting coordinated implementation. Introduction The digital economy is expanding rapidly, creating new opportunities for economic growth andstructural transformation worldwide. In developing countries, digitalization is increasingly recognizedas a key driver of productivity, innovation and sustainable development. However, UNCTAD’srecent World Investment Report 2025 shows that investment in the digital economy remains highlyconcentrated: over 80 per cent of greenfield FDI in digital sectors flows to just 10 developing economies,mainly in Asia. Growth is also uneven across sectors. In 2024, international investment in digitalservices in developing countries reached $37 billion in 2024, while investment in core infrastructureremained limited, at $9 billion. Globally, greenfield investment in ICT infrastructure amounted to $15billion – far below the $62 billion needed annually. Data centres and fintech investment also tend tofavour middle-income economies, with just 3 per cent reaching least developed countries (UNCTAD,2025). To close these gaps and unlock digital investment, countries increasingly require a comprehensivepolicy toolbox with diverse instruments capable of creating virtuous dynamics across different levelsof government and markets. A key consideration is understanding how regional, sub-regional andnational strategies — together with technology- and sector-specific strategies — can complementeach other to foster investment and accelerate digital transformation. These strategies help shapethe enabling environment for the development of the digital economy, including infrastructureexpansion and technology adoption. Their introduction also signals a government’s commitment todigital transformation, offering investors greater predictability and confidence in the country’s digitaltrajectory. This Investment Policy Monitor builds on the findings of the World Investment Report 2025: Internationalinvestment in the digital economy. It reviews regional, national and sectoral or technology specificdigital strategies, focusing on their investment-related components and identifying common gaps.Section 1 analyses regional digital strategies, highlighting commonalities and differences in policyapproaches. Section 2 maps the investment dimensions of national digital strategies in developingcountries, assessing coverage of regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, digital skillsand investment promotion. Section 3 reviews selected technology- and sector-specific strategies,focussing on AI, data centres and semiconductors. 1.Regional digital strategies Regional digital strategies have become important tools for guiding national digital policy development,fostering cross-border policy coherence and facilitating regional cooperation on digital infrastructure.By promoting the alignment of standards, facilitatin