tailieunhanh - INFORMATION ECONOMY REPORT 2005

This Report illustrates the vigorous efforts being undertaken by many developing countries to catch up with their more developed partners in the dissemination and use of ICT. However, it also shows that the gaps are still far too wide and the catching-up far too uneven for the promise of a truly global information society, with its attendant benefits for sustainable social and economic development, to materialize without the sustained engagement of national Governments, the business sector and civil society, and the tangible solidarity of the international community. | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development INFORMATION ECONOMY REPORT 2005 Prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva 2005 Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country territory city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted but full acknowledgement is requested together with a reference to the document number. A copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat at Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland. The English version of the full report and the English French and Spanish versions of its Overview section are currently available on the Internet at the address indicated below. Versions in other languages will be posted as they become available. http ecommerce UNCTAD SDTE ECB 2005 1 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. ISBN 92-1-112679-7 Copyright 2005 United Nations All rights reserved Foreword Information and communication technologies ICTs have the potential to profoundly change global trade finance and production. By making businesses more competitive and economies more productive and most of all by empowering people with knowledge ICTs can support faster economic growth and thus strengthen the material basis for development. Our challenge is to ensure that this potential is used to generate real gains in the global struggle against poverty disease and ignorance and their offspring fear intolerance and war. This Information Economy Report 2005 is being published by the United .