Sudan & The Global Information Technology Report 2004-2005

Since it was first launched in 2001, the Global Information Technology Report has become a valuable and unique benchmarking tool to determine national ICT strengths and weaknesses, and to evaluate progress.
The Global Information Technology Report 2004-2005 is the fourth in a series assessing the state of the networked readiness of 104 economies. It is an update of the previous Reports, capturing new insights and best practices and gleaning policy lessons from various country experiences. The Report remains the most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the preparedness of countries to capture the benefits of participating in the Networked World.

It also highlights the continuing importance of ICT application and development for economic growth.
The Report uses the Networked Readiness Index (NRI), covering a total of 104 economies in 2004-2005, to measure "the degree of preparation of a nation or community to participate in and benefit from ICT developments".

The NRI is composed of three component indexes which assess:
• the environment for ICT offered by a given country or community
• the readiness of the community's key stakeholders - individuals, business and governments
• and the usage of ICT among these stakeholders

The global economy is being changed in profound ways by the onward march of science and technology.

Technological change has, of course, always been a central engine of economic growth, but what is significant about the past decade is the acceleration in the pace of change and, as more and more countries have made efforts to improve their macroeconomic and policy environments, technology and technological innovation appear to have entered a golden age, a time when they are emerging as the key drivers of growth and development.

There are, to be sure, still many basic battles to be won in the developing world, addressing fundamental issues of development, from reducing poverty levels and the incidence of disease to enhancing opportunity and the quality of life for large segments of the world's population.

But, as economists are prone to point out, what matters most is what happens at the margin; and at the margin technologies today particularly information and communications technologies (ICT)are increasingly playing the central catalytic role in pushing the development process forward.

I checked the Networed business Index Rankings 2004, the list which includes 104 nations, does not include Sudan. The last country in the list was Chad with - 1.69 (minus 1.69). On top of the list is Singapore with 1.73.
This is a new era, when are we going to start the right path for the future?

Quote: But, as economists are prone to point out, what matters most is what happens at the margin, and at the margin technologies today—particularly information and communications technologies (ICT) are increasingly playing the central catalytic role in pushing the development process forward.

Indeed information and communication technologies are essential for development. On top of these there is also the human capital, which we have in abundance. Unfortionately, this human capital is scattered around the world due to the political situation in Sudan. So, I think we should first start with political reforming and establish a sustained democracy.

Nice article!

Dear Mohammed,

You are right about the importance of the human resource factor in economic development. It is sad to note how the needs of our people come last in the list of preference of our political parties.. Not only the availability of this element in a society that knew education at an early stage, but also the quality of an excellent social fabric that has been torn by silly mistakes.

Stay well...