Huawei Champions Digital Economy Growth at 4th Development Forum in Barcelona

Huawei's 4th Digital Economy Development Forum

On March 3, 2026, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Huawei hosted the 4th Digital Economy Development Forum, which attracted nearly 100 digital strategists, industry experts, and organizational representatives from diverse regions, including Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. This event served as a pivotal platform for discussing emerging opportunities for digital economy advancements in this AI-driven era.

The forum commenced with an opening speech by David Wang, Huawei's Executive Director of the Board. In his address, Wang emphasized key topics such as policy, infrastructure, and talent development, aligning them with the forum's central theme: "From Vision to Value for an Intelligent Future." He highlighted the dramatic growth of AI technologies, noting that AI agents are taking a central role across various industries. According to a report from IDC, it is projected that AI will contribute a staggering $22.3 trillion to the global economy by the year 2030. This statistic signals that the digital economy has evolved beyond the simple equation of "connectivity plus data" to a more complex interplay of "AI plus decision-making."

Given this dynamic landscape, Wang identified three critical areas that need attention to foster high-quality development in the global digital economy. First, he called for supportive industry policies that promote synergetic growth between the digital and real economies. These policies, in turn, will empower businesses and governments to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing digital terrain. Secondly, there is a pressing need for forward-thinking infrastructure. Such infrastructure is vital to facilitate the widespread application of digital technologies and to expedite the digital transformation across various sectors.

Lastly, the creation of a multi-tiered, sustainable talent ecosystem emerges as a strategic pillar essential for the long-term growth of the digital economy. Wang concluded his address by reiterating Huawei's commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to cultivate intelligent industries and establish a robust foundation for an intelligent future. "Together, we can realize our vision and derive actual value from it," he stated, emphasizing the cooperative spirit of the forum.

During the keynote session, participants delved into discussions surrounding the future development of digital infrastructure. Joyce Liu, Director of Huawei's ICT Marketing Operations Department, stressed that digital infrastructure serves as the bedrock for industrial growth in the age of AI. She highlighted the importance of addressing all facets of infrastructure, including networking, energy, and computational resources. Establishing low-latency network connections is pivotal to avoid forming information silos that can stifle AI development. Furthermore, swiftly expanding green data centers is imperative to promote computational growth while minimizing carbon footprints.

Professor Rong Ke from Tsinghua University's Institute of Economics also contributed to the dialogue, underscoring data as a crucial production element in the AI age. Ke argued that refining digital infrastructure during every phase of data handling—from generation to application—is crucial to fully harnessing the value embedded in data.

As the forum progressed, representatives reached a consensus on critical issues regarding the development of the digital economy. They acknowledged that countries are at varying stages of digital integration and must tailor their AI strategies reflecting their unique circumstances to effectively drive intelligent transformation.

Established in 2023, the Huawei Digital Economy Development Forum has become a leading platform for innovation-driven collaboration aimed at global success. MWC Barcelona 2026 ran from March 2 to March 5, allowing Huawei to showcase its latest solutions and products at stand 1H50 at Fira Gran Via Hall 1. For further details on their offerings or to get involved, you can visit Huawei's official event page.