On 5 November 2026, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA), through RECONOMY’s Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness project, participated in People, Planet & Systems, a regional event organised within the framework of RECONOMY at the Megerian Carpets Factory in Yerevan.
Bringing together representatives of the public sector, international development organisations, academia and the private sector, the event explored how development approaches can move beyond conventional models to generate more inclusive, sustainable and systemic change.
Under the central theme “Development Done Differently”, discussions examined the interconnected dimensions of people, planet and systems, highlighting the importance of collaboration, responsible business practices, effective development approaches and long-term impact.
These discussions are particularly relevant to the objectives of the Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness Project, which recognises digital transformation as more than the introduction of new technologies. Digitalisation is a strategic driver of economic competitiveness: it can strengthen business capabilities, improve productivity, facilitate access to markets, support innovation and enable sectors to respond more effectively to evolving economic demands.
However, the benefits of digital transformation depend on more than technological availability. They require capable people, businesses willing and equipped to adopt new solutions, and enabling systems that support innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.
This is where the People-Planet-Systems perspective intersects with the project’s approach. Strengthening sectoral competitiveness requires connecting digital solutions with human capacities, business needs and the wider economic ecosystem, ensuring that technological progress translates into tangible and lasting development outcomes.
Participation in the regional event provided an opportunity to engage with these broader perspectives, exchange insights with different stakeholders and reflect on the role of digitalisation in advancing more competitive, resilient and sustainable economic systems.
RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries.