The digital economy has become one of the most powerful engines of global growth. It is expected to account for more than two-thirds of new value creation over the next decade and to expand at an annual rate of 10-12 per cent, well above the pace of global gross domestic product (GDP). For developing countries, it is increasingly viewed as a pathway to higher productivity, innovation and sustainable development. Yet the investment needed to build competitive digital sectors and close the digital divide is not reaching all countries equally.

Against this backdrop, the publication “International investment in the digital economy in the digital economy: a toolkit for policymakers” provides practical insights on how to attract and leverage international investment in the digital economy, building on the analysis and recommendations of UNCTAD’s World Investment Report (WIR) 2025. The toolkit includes country experiences, translates the WIR’s strategic policy measures into policy lessons and action-oriented policy guidance aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and global commitments under the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future adopted in 2024.