Bermuda will be part of a global e-readiness rankings survey conduced by The Economist Intelligence Unit in partnership with IBM Institute for Business Value that will be published at the end of this month.

Bermuda is the only island jurisdiction of its kind to be part of the survey which will rank performance in comparison to other global players.

Inclusion is based on participants advances in e-business, technology, telecommunications as well as in social, economic, education and political development.

?This speaks to the international reputation that Bermuda has as an e-business and technology jurisdiction and the sophistication of Bermuda?s technology environment, as observed by the most respected global watchdogs in the e-business and economic community, said Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce Michael Scott. He added the survey will help Bermuda assess its strengths and identify areas for improvement.

Nancy Volesky, director of e-commerce said, the Economist and other business organisations are paying attention to Bermuda because of its sophisticated IT and telecommunications services.

?International business continues to establish in Bermuda because they can relay on local IT companies to service and support their global networks and Information Communication Telecommunications (ICT) needs,? she said.

She added that some local companies are now exporting Bermuda technology know how in the areas of IT security and telecommunications to markets in Europe and the Caribbean.

The E-Commerce also said yesterday that it is establishing benchmark statistics for all areas of ICT on which to measure progress. It is also working with business and consulting with the technology sector as it moves to create an appropriate legislative environment and identify future growth opportunities and challenges. Details are outlined in its first quarterly newsletter, ?Bermuda?s IT?.

?We believe in a strategy of e-inclusion as part of the Government?s Social Agenda and we are working on initiatives that will help to provide technology skills acquisition opportunities,? Ms Volesky said.

?Our priority is developing viable and integrated strategies that contribute to the sustainability of the technology environment and also makes an impact on the economic empowerment and opportunities for Bermudians.?