2 April 2007

ICT plays a vital role in economic growth, a new European Commission study has found.

The body's yearly i2010 report, which seeks to analyse how effectively member states are employing ICT, found that it was responsible for just under 50 per cent of all EU productivity in the first four years of this millennium.

Software and IT services were also revealed to be the most "dynamic" area of growth in 2006-07, recording a 5.9 per cent increase.

Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, commented: "Our integrated European policy for growth and jobs is now starting to pay dividends."

However, she also warned member states not to rest on their laurels and take further action to ensure that the remaining barriers to full online service provision are overcome.

Ms Reding recently claimed that the Internet is one of the most positive outcomes of globalisation and would drive development - providing that all individuals are afforded access.

© Adfero Ltd

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