Two new strategies titled Networked Society and Networked Enterprise respectively where launched this week by the MCA. The documents set out the Authority’s vision and a three year programme of initiatives to sustain wider ICT adoption and use within society and amongst enterprises.
During the launch, Dr Austin Gatt, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, described the strategies as a bold drive to ensure that the benefits of technologies are indeed enjoyed by everyone. Whilst acknowledging Malta’s positive achievements to date, he stated that “Whilst Malta is fairing very positively against other EU countries in terms of the number of younger individuals making regular use of the Internet, we still have some 125,000 individuals, mostly adults and elderly, who do not use the Internet and are therefore unable to take part in any online activity, whether to communicate with family and friends abroad, to carry out their weekly shopping online or to make use of online banking facilities”.
He further warned that “we have come so far in terms of technology availability and affordability; however we cannot rest on our laurels. Technology is continuously developing, becoming increasingly sophisticated and presenting even greater opportunities to its users. Unless we take action and prevent individuals from lagging behind, we will end up with a section of Maltese population that is excluded, marginalised and disadvantaged. Malta is already ahead of other countries where ICT usage by Government is concerned. The Government is committed to these strategies as this is the only way forward to create more quality jobs for everyone.”
The first strategy, the Networked Society, looks at societal trends and identifies the realities behind the digital divide where age and socioeconomic factors remain the primary reasons for the lack of use of ICT. The strategy proposes a number of initiatives aimed at inspiring everyone to go online, facilitating ICT access and related opportunities, building digital skills and competencies, promoting ICT as a social equaliser and building better policy in this regard.
The Networked Enterprise strategy explores the opportunities and threats local enterprises are experiencing in a global, digitally driven market and the impact on the economy. The strategy identifies a need to support business leaders, who typically need access to most recent infrastructures and a legal and regulatory environment that is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurial flair. The strategy also identifies a need to support those enterprises that so far have resisted ICT integration. The strategy proposes a number of initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and motivation, building capacity, advancing eCommerce for local and global reach, facilitating new market opportunities and building a robust business environment conducive to growth.
Ing Philip Micallef, Executive Chairman of the MCA, explained that the new strategies will continue to build on the past initiatives undertaken by the Authority on this front. He referred to the various initiatives undertaken over the past years by the Authority particularly the ICTforALL initiative which through the various participating intermediary organisations, during 2011 alone, it trained 1.5% of the Maltese adult population on basic ICT competencies. He stated that 'modern infrastructures and widespread access do not automatically translate into opportunities to all Maltese citizens and businesses”. He added that “irrespective of whether its business or personal life, often the hardest step is to convince individuals that ICTs can indeed make a difference”. He augured that the strategies will help “to make more people get the most out of ICTs irrespective of age, gender and occupation”.