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New WEF Report: A Path To Inclusive Economic Growth Through AI

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 22, 2025

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a new report that outlines how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to foster inclusive economic growth and societal progress. While AI holds immense potential to transform economies and societies, ensuring that its benefits are shared equitably remains a global challenge. The report offers practical strategies for leaders to address equity concerns, tailor AI solutions to local needs, and drive long-term, sustainable growth for all.

Nine Strategic Objectives

The report, titled Blueprint for Intelligent Economies, was developed in collaboration with KPMG. It outlines nine key strategic objectives that support every phase of the AI journey: innovation, development, deployment, and adoption at national, regional, and global levels. As part of the WEF’s AI Competitiveness through Regional Collaboration Initiative, the report tackles disparities in access to AI, infrastructure, advanced computing, and skills. It provides actionable insights and showcases successful case studies to help governments and other stakeholders at all AI maturity levels build more inclusive and resilient AI ecosystems worldwide.

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AI Strategy For Inclusive Growth

The report emphasizes the importance of designing national and regional AI strategies that engage all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, entrepreneurs, civil society, and users. These strategies, backed by high-level leadership, should be developed in close collaboration with local communities. This approach is critical to addressing issues such as responsible governance, data privacy, and the local impact of AI policies on innovation and investment.

“The significant potential of AI remains largely untapped in many regions worldwide. Establishing an inclusive and competitive AI ecosystem will become a crucial priority for all nations,” said Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa. “Collaboration among multiple stakeholders at the national, regional, and global levels will be essential in fostering growth and prosperity through AI for everyone,” he added.

Tailored Frameworks And Collaboration

The report draws on global expertise and provides frameworks tailored to nations at various stages of AI development. While every region faces its unique challenges, the blueprint stresses the importance of adapting successful solutions from other regions. For example, regional frameworks for sharing AI infrastructure and energy resources can help overcome national resource limitations. Additionally, centralized databanks can create inclusive local datasets that reflect the diverse needs of communities. Public-private subsidies can widen access to affordable AI-ready devices, allowing local innovators to adopt AI technologies and scale their operations.

“All nations have a unique opportunity to advance their economic and societal progress through AI,” said Hatem Dowidar, CEO of E&. “This requires a collaborative approach of intentional leadership from governments, supported by active engagement with all stakeholders at every stage of the AI journey. Regional and global collaborations remain essential to address shared challenges and opportunities, ensuring equitable access to key AI capabilities and responsibly maximizing its transformative potential for lasting value for all,” he concluded.

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Cyprus Fuel Prices Jump 20.5% As Energy Costs Rise Across The EU

Cyprus recorded a 20.5% year-on-year increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in May 2026, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.

The increase was broadly in line with the European Union average of 20.7%, with fuel and lubricant prices rising across all EU member states during the period.

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Cyprus Tracks The EU Average

Among EU countries, the largest annual increases were recorded in Bulgaria (33.9%), Luxembourg (32.2%), Lithuania (30.8%) and Romania (30.4%). At the other end of the scale, Hungary registered the smallest increase at 3.5%, while annual growth ranged from 12.7% in Poland to 29.2% in France across the remaining member states.

Eurostat noted that fuel and lubricant prices generally declined across the EU until February 2026 before moving higher in subsequent months.

Diesel And Petrol Follow Different Paths

Across the European Union, diesel prices increased by 29% in May 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while petrol prices rose by 16.2%. Monthly trends, however, were more mixed. Between April and May 2026, diesel prices across the EU fell by 5.8%, whereas petrol prices increased by 0.8%.

In Cyprus, diesel prices declined by 1.5% over the same period. Although lower than in April, the decrease was less pronounced than in Germany (-11.9%), Greece (-8.5%), Estonia (-8.4%) and Ireland (-8.1%).

Petrol prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by 2.1% between April and May. A similar pattern was observed across much of the EU, with 23 member states reporting monthly increases. Italy recorded the largest monthly rise in petrol prices at 6.9%, while decreases were reported in Germany (-5.6%), Ireland (-2.0%) and Sweden (-0.7%).