Competitiveness
Bangladesh 110th among 148 countries in WEF index
Bangladesh went up to the 110th position in the Global Competitiveness Index 2013-14 of the World Economic Forum released on Wednesday.
The Switzerland-based organisation prepared the index with 148 countries worldwide assessing the competitiveness landscapes providing insight into the drivers of their productivity and prosperity.
The position of Bangladesh was 118th among 144 countries surveyed in 2012-2013.
The country’s position is 107th in 2013-2014 among the 144 countries surveyed in 2012-2013.
Neighbouring India slipped one place to 60th this year and Pakistan dropped nine places to 133th. Sri Lanka went up to 65th from 68th and Nepal to 117th position from 125th.
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organisation ‘committed to improving’ the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Releasing the annual Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014, WEF said highly innovative countries with strong institutions continue to top the rankings.
While Switzerland is on top for fifth year in a row, United States has reversed its four-year downward trend to occupy 5th position and Japan has risen to ninth place.
Singapore and Finland remain in second and third positions respectively, while Germany moves up two places (4th).
Two other Asian economies, Hong Kong (7th) and Japan (9th), also feature in the top ten of the rankings of 148 economies.
‘Innovation becomes even more critical in terms of an economy’s ability to foster future prosperity,’ World Economic Forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said.
Schwab further noted ‘the traditional distinction between countries being ‘developed’ or ‘less developed’ will gradually disappear and we will instead refer to them much more in terms of being ‘innovation rich’ vs ‘innovation poor’ countries.’
It is therefore vital that leaders from business, government and civil society work together to
create education systems and enable environments which foster innovation, it added.
-With New Age input
