London, April 10:

Despite its status as a world leader in information technology, India does not figure among the top 20 of the world’s most networked economies.

In fact it has slipped four places to rank 50 in the Global Information Technology Report for 2007-2008 published by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

China, the hub of global IT manufacturing, lags a shocking seven places behind India in the overall ratings for 127 countries published today.

Europe remains the most important player in networked readiness this year. Denmark is the single most networked economy in the world, followed by Sweden and Switzerland.

Eight other European countries figure in the top 20 — Austria, Britain, Estonia, Finland, Germany Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway. The failure of India and China to make it to the top 20 is mainly on account of their poor infrastructure for information and communication technologies (ICTs), said Irene Mia, senior economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the WEF and co-editor of the report.

“India and China have progressed enormously in the last decade or so, becoming global leaders in high tech services, notably India, and goods, notably China, exports. Nevertheless the areas and clusters of excellence present in those countries are not the only reality,” Mia said.

Asian toppers

LONDON: Asian economies featured in the top 20 are: Singapore (fifth), Hong Kong (11th), Australia (14th), Taiwan (17th), and Japan (19th). India is down four places at 50, while China improved five positions to reach 57. — HNS