SANTIAGO, Chile (CMC) – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Thursday launched the Digital Development Observatory (ODD) aimed at supporting Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in their digital transformation processes.

ECLAC said that the ODD seeks to generate indicators and knowledge about the digital transformation process in the LAC countries for the design of better policies in this area, in order to move towards more productive, inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

It said the ODD website contains more than 60 indicators and qualitative information in 12 thematic areas considered key to the digital transformation of countries.

These include connectivity and digital inclusion, business and production-related digital transformation, e-commerce and digital services, digital skills, digital government, artificial intelligence, among others.

It also compiles information on national digital agendas, in terms of their areas of intervention and institutional framework.

“In this way, the Observatory contributes information for policy formulation, academic research and monitoring of compliance with the Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (eLAC),” ECLAC said.

ECLAC added that the tool was developed with support from the European Union and that on Thursday a debate will be held with leading specialists on the potential of this instrument and the challenges when it comes to measuring digital transformation.

Among those expected to address the virtual launch are the ECLAC Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs and the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, Félix Fernández-Shaw.