Networked Readiness Index (NRI) measured the level
to which countries exploit the opportunities.
Networked Readiness 2004-2005
1. Singapore (2)
2. Iceland (10)
3. Finland (3)
4. Denmark (5)
5. United States (1)
6. Sweden (4)
7. Hong Kong (18)
8. Japan (12)
9. Switzerland (7)
10. Canada (6)
11. Australia (9)
12. UK (15)
13. Norway (8)
14. Germany (11)
15. Taiwan (17)
2003-2004 rankings in brackets
Singapore emerge as the global leader in the NRI
rankings, with the US slipping to the fifth position,
against the top slot that it held last year. Hong
Kong and Japan moved into the top 10. China moved
up 10 places to the 41st spot, while Brazil and Mexico
dropped down the rankings.
India has moved up six notches to the 39th position
in the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) according to
the World Economic Forum’s Global Information
Technology Report, 2004-05.
Factors that weighed in India's favour included the
availability of scientists and engineers, where it
topped the list of 104 countries. Similarly, it was
ranked 11 for the quality of its maths and science
education and six in terms of the quality of its business
schools.
Iceland was found to have achieved the greatest improvement
among the top ten performers, moving up eight places
to number two in the index.
Nordic governments, business communities and households
are "enthusiastic users" of new technologies,
the report noted.
The booming economies of China and India moved up
10 and six places respectively to into 41st and 39th
in the index.
The quality of scientific and research institutions
was better in India, and its financial markets were
more sophisticated than China's. In terms of ICT procurement,
however, the Chinese government was ranked 12th while
the government of India was ranked 64th
The US topped the list in terms of the quality of
business schools, China was ranked 71. In terms of
the government's priority to ICT, India was ranked
ninth, while China was ranked 43.
Singapore was found to be the best performer in a
number of categories, including quality of maths and
science education, affordability of telephone connection
charges and internet access, and government policy
on ICT.
