By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Founding
Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya
has called for emerging economies to have a greater say in shaping investment
flows, stressing the need for stronger partnerships that build lasting economic
capabilities, resilience and shared prosperity.
AlYahya made the remarks
during a panel discussion at CNN Global Perspectives in Doha, where
participants explored “The Power of the Middle” and the growing role of
emerging economies in the global economic order.
“Emerging economies deserve
a greater say in shaping the investment that drives their futures,” she said.
According to AlYahya,
developing economies relied on traditional financial centres for decades, but
new investment corridors across Asia, Africa and the Middle East are changing
that dynamic.
She cited figures showing
that South-South investment accounts for approximately 40% of greenfield
investment in developing countries’ digital economies.
Between 2020 and 2024,
developing countries attracted $531 billion in announced digital economy
investments, yet 80% of the investment was concentrated in just ten countries.
AlYahya stressed that the
value of investment should not be measured solely by the amount of capital
flowing into an economy, but also by the capabilities and opportunities it
creates.
“The true value of
investment is not simply how much capital flows into an economy, but what it
leaves behind,” she said.
She added that emerging
economies could shape where investment goes, what it achieves and how it
strengthens their collective voice.
“Now is the time to
strengthen investment partnerships across regions and economies, ensuring
capital creates lasting economic capabilities, greater resilience, and shared
prosperity,” AlYahya said.
