by Trinh Anh Duc
12-7-2001
Vietnam ranks 101st in Human Development Index (HDI) among 162 countries in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s 2001 Human Development Report. The announcement was made at a press briefing in Hanoi on July 11, 2001 to launch the global Human Development Report 2001 in Vietnam. The index is based on a country's life expectancy, education, gross domestic product (GDP), and information technology.
In the report, Vietnam ranks 45th of 90 countries in Hunger and Poverty Index (HPI), and 89th of 146 countries in the Gender Development Index. UNDP considers that these figures reflect Vietnam's high rankings among developing countries.
The annual report entitled Making New Technologies Work for human Development analysed the potential of biotech, information, and communication technology for developing countries. It argued that these new technologies could play a huge role in reducing world poverty and refuted the view that technology is a luxury reserved primarily for people in rich countries.
The report took a fresh look at controversial issues including genetically-modified foods, intellectual property rights, and the 'brain drain.'
Addressing the briefing, UNDP Chief Resident Economist Robert Glofcheski said that Vietnam should raise its access to information technology and the application of information technology, including the Internet. He added that the UNDP had supported Vietnam in carrying out a strategy on science and technology.
Norwary and Australia were first and second, with Canada coming in third after being at the top of the index for six years.