On January 20, 2026, at the margins of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the Digi Americas Alliance organized a roundtable – which was hosted by Google – on ‘Cybersecurity and Inclusive Growth: Strengthening Digital Economies in Emerging Markets.’ The discussion focused on practical strategies for fostering digital trust and strengthening digital economies, focusing on data privacy, transparency, and geopolitical realities. The following report summarizes the insights, strategies, and recommendations discussed at the event.
Insights
The high-level roundtable opened with a shared acknowledgment that cybersecurity has become a core geopolitical and economic issue for emerging markets. Opening perspectives emphasized that trust in digital ecosystems is increasingly shaped by global power dynamics, cross-border data flows, and the security of critical infrastructure. Participants noted that cybersecurity decisions are no longer purely technical or commercial; they are deeply intertwined with national sovereignty, foreign policy, and strategic autonomy. As emerging markets accelerate digital transformation, leaders face growing pressure to balance openness and innovation with the need to protect sensitive data, national infrastructure, and economic independence in an increasingly fragmented global digital environment.
The first session focused on cybersecurity as an economic and strategic opportunity amid geopolitical uncertainty. Participants discussed how resilient and secure digital infrastructure can enhance national competitiveness while reducing exposure to external dependencies. The conversation highlighted the reality that investment, innovation, and market access are increasingly influenced by a country’s ability to manage cyber risk and safeguard data. Panelists emphasized that sectors such as fintech, digital public services, health, and energy are not only engines of growth but also critical infrastructure assets that require heightened protection. The discussion underscored that cybersecurity investments can help countries assert greater control over their digital economies, strengthen investor confidence, and reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks, including supply-chain disruptions and state-sponsored cyber activity. Embedding secure-by-design principles was seen as essential to ensuring that digital growth does not come at the expense of national resilience.
The session then turned to global cooperation and policy alignment in a world marked by strategic competition and divergent regulatory models. Participants explored how emerging markets often face difficult choices when navigating competing international frameworks, technology providers, and standards regimes. Issues of data sovereignty, cross-border data transfers, and regulatory fragmentation were featured prominently, with many noting that inconsistent or externally imposed models can strain domestic capacity and limit policy autonomy. At the same time, participants stressed that isolation is not a viable option. International cooperation, particularly through multilateral institutions and trusted public-private partnerships, was identified as critical to sharing threat intelligence, building capacity, and maintaining interoperability without sacrificing national priorities. Regulatory alignment with global norms, when adapted to local contexts, was viewed as a way to reduce geopolitical risk while enabling secure participation in the global digital economy.
The roundtable concluded with a call to action centered on pragmatic, informed cybersecurity strategies. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening national institutions, developing local cyber talent, and investing in resilient infrastructure that supports both economic growth and strategic autonomy. Closing remarks reinforced that cybersecurity is now a strategic lever for navigating global uncertainty. By integrating cybersecurity into economic planning, foreign policy considerations, and digital development agendas, emerging markets can build trust, safeguard sovereignty, and position themselves as resilient and credible actors in an increasingly contested digital landscape.
Participants shared their views on potential recommendations for emerging markets
Next Steps
Participants
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