Ever-evolving and increasingly powerful information and communication technologies (ICTs) have fundamentally changed the nature of global relationships, sources of competitive advantage and opportunities for economic and social development. Belarus, which does not have mineral resources but has educated and well-trained population, can speed up realization of its capacities through ICT.

The report was drafted in 2003 jointly with the Belarusian Fund of Informatization under the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus. It includes six chapters and looks at the following components of ICT development and use: access to information resources; information education; information economy and ICT policies. The analysis suggests that by the aggregate index of e-readiness, Belarus ranks 61st among 76 countries covered by the assessment. The findings of the report have been used for developing the government program «E-Belarus».

The report draws upon the most advanced methodologies developed by the Center of International Development of the Harvard University as well as ICT development indicators which have been used in developing the government program «E-Europe».