OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2014. Moldova went up by four positions in the world ranking of the International Telecommunication Union in terms of development of the information and communication technology sector (ICT), according to a press release by the Information Technology and Communications Ministry.

According to the Measuring the Information Society 2014 annual report, Moldova ranks 61 out of 166 countries monitored, against the 65th place in 2013, with 0.95 points above the world average. The report sets the rating of countries according to the level of development and penetration of the information and communication technology sector and the ICT services accessibility for the population.

Moldova is among the countries with average values of this index, including Romania (58th position) and Ukraine (73rd position). The top leaders are Denmark, South Korea, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland.

According to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) experts, the ICT sector in Moldova is one of the main drivers of change in society and business environment, and registered an upward dynamic. Developing the information society is a national priority and the way this will be achieved depends on the authorities’ ability to determine the correct direction of development and to mobilise the needed resources. According to international experts, human capital and creating favourable conditions for its potential can provide an added economic value for Moldova, as the country lacks its own natural deposits or energy resources.

The ICT Development Index was introduced by the International Telecommunication Union in March 2009 to compare the level of development and the evolution of information and communication technology over time.