According to ECLAC Executive Secretary José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, the aim is to collect information on the region to understand the phenomenon that changes how we live, work, and relate to each other.

He said that digitalization can enhance inclusion and social welfare by promoting greater access to knowledge, expanding and improving the coverage of essential services such as health and education, and increasing the productivity and competitiveness of businesses.

Salazar-Xirinachs said that if we do not embrace this transformation, our countries risk slowing their growth and widening the gaps with the most advanced nations.

The ECLAC official warned that without adequate governance, digitalization could also create new sources of social exclusion, generate a bigger concentration of wealth, and lead to risk in security and data management.

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