New index helps countries track their digital progress

(Oct. 2024) “The whole world is digitalizing,” notes Victor Lim, Group VP of Custom Research for IDC Asia Pacific.

“But a lot of policymakers are asking us, ‘How do I know the impact? How do I know how I'm progressing?’”

Huawei’s latest Global Digitalization Index (GDI) provides some answers.

One thing that sets the GDI apart from other benchmarks is its emphasis on the environment.

“We believe digitalization stake two paths: economic growth, and sustainability,” Lim tells Huawei Editor-in-Chief Gavin Allen in this Transform Talks interview. “Otherwise, more digitalization will increase your carbon footprint.”

The GDI research found that, for every dollar national governments invest in ICT, they get $8 worth of economic benefits in the form of higher employment, increased productivity, and more innovation.

“The GDI helps you understand where your strengths are, and where the gaps are,” Lim says. “Policymakers can then make informed decisions on how to quickly digitalize the economy.”