Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

Jamaica is now ranked the third-best country in information communications technology (ICT) in Latin America and the Caribbean, behind Chile and Barbados, says Microsoft Global Competitiveness Report for 2007.

But the burden of government's regulation and the extent and effect of taxation in the country's market and regulatory environments are preventing Jamaica from advancing further in the world ranking.

Jamaica, one of only seven countries in the region selected to be briefed on the findings ofthe report, was informed of its ranking by the World Economic Forum (WEF) last Thursday at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel in Kingston.

The report, which was published in March 2007, showed Jamaica as the 45th most competitive in ICT worldwide among 122 countries under the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) 2007. This moves Jamaica nine places up from its previous position last year. Chile and Barbados placed 31, and 40, respectively.

The report was compiled based on the NRI which measures the degree of preparation of a nation or community to participate and benefit from ICT developments.

Environment problems

Addressing the private and public sectors at the briefing, senior economist for WEF, Dr. Irene Mia, said there was a problem with the environment in which Jamaica's ICT development takes place.

Jamaica was ranked 77 out of 122 economies by the WEF on the basis of its ICT infrastructure - taking into account the availability of telephone lines, Internet servers and hosts, electricity generating capacity, tertiary enrolment, scientists and engineers. The category 'Environment' also looks at the political and regulatory surroundings, as well as, the market environment.

"Countries well ranked focus on education and provided a good macroeconomic environment and transparent regulatory environments," explained Dr. Mia, who stressed that Jamaica needed to look into improving its education in ICT. She stressed further that having access to technology was not as effective without the application of knowledge.

"Jamaica is at the stage where it needs to focus more on the efficiency of its markets, so it is at stage two," Dr. Mia advised. Countries in stage two includes those with gross domestic product per capita of between US$3,000 and US$9,000 and are midway in the full development of ICT.

The Global Competitive Report is a benchmarking tool used to determine national ICT strengths and weaknesses, and to evaluate progress in the sector. It highlights the importance of ICT application and development for economic growth.

susan.gordon@gleaner jm.com