SL jumps 11 positions in NRI
The recently released 2015 edition of the Global Information
Technology Report of the World Economic Forum has placed Sri Lanka at 65
in networked readiness index (NRI) among 143 economies surveyed.
Singapore is ranked as the topmost in networked readiness and
replaces Finland, which had been number one since 2013. Japan, which
climbs an impressive six places, year-on-year basis, to tenth position,
also joins the top 10.
Sri Lanka is the highest ranked South Asian nation this year and
eighth among the Asian nations beaten only by Singapore (first), Japan
(10th), Korea (12th), Hong Kong (14th), Taiwan (18th), Malaysia (32nd)
and China (62nd).
These seven countries are industrialised nations with higher per
capita GDP rates.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka has been rated above its economic peers
- Thailand (67th), South Africa (75th), Indonesia (79th) and Brazil
(84th).
Overall South Asia performance does not look good with India (81st),
Bangladesh (102nd) and Pakistan (112th) all not making to the better
half. Sri Lanka's performance this year is impressive compared to that
of 2014, when it lost points for relatively sluggish infrastructure
developments.
This year Sri Lanka has improved its status particularly in
affordability of ICT facilities, ICT skills, ICT use by government and
social impact of ICTs. In affordability, it is within the top 10
economies.
Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Espen Barth Eide said the
2015 report has been released at a time when many economies around the
world are struggling to ensure that economic growth is equitable and
provides benefits for their entire populations.
Advanced economies have not yet reached their full potential and they
struggle with persistently high unemployment, rising inequalities, and
fiscal challenges.
Emerging markets and developing economies are facing strong headwinds
than before and need to adjust their development models to ensure
economic growth and a more broad-based distribution of gains. |