Information and Communication Technology Indicators

Luxembourg retained its position at the top of the latest UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index measuring the underlying capability of 137 economies to support online shopping and other business-to-consumer electronic commerce.

The mobile telephone revolution in developing countries continues to drive global trade in information and communication technology goods, with China pre-eminent as the world's top trader in all categories of the sector.

UNCTAD has held a session on measuring the information economy, at a regional International Telecommunication Union (ITU) workshop for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Developing countries, with the burgeoning skills of their domestic software writers, should seek to expand the creation of software that meets local needs and capabilities as a means of increasing income and addressing broader economic and social development goals, says Information Economy Report 2012.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) will provide financial support to UNCTAD to help developing countries benefit more from information and communication technologies (ICTs).