Strategic alliance with ICT giant

The government has joined forces with the major multinational information communications and technology firm, Oracle Corporation, adding another important partner in its mission to transform Malta into an "ICT centre of excellence" and stepping up its efforts towards the growth of its ICT product.

Investment, Industry and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt yesterday described the vertical strategic alliance with Oracle as a commitment by another international ICT firm to the implementation of the government's national ICT strategy, which focuses on ICT education, the ICT industry and the narrowing of the digital divide.

Oracle is a world leader in the use and management of information, how to share and protect it. For nearly three decades, the world's largest software company has provided the software and services for organisations to have the most up-to-date and accurate information from their business systems.

Dr Gatt said the alliance established the framework for the launch of a number of projects, which sought to increase the level and employability of ICT graduates fresh out of university and the Malta College for the Arts, Science and Technology.

Among the initiatives is the extension of previous arrangements to set up academies at the university, the Junior College and MCAST to churn out specialised skills into the local labour market, Dr Gatt said.

The project would help reach the National ICT Strategy targets of preparing 500 certified ICT-specialists a year by next year and increasing direct ICT employment by 1,200 employees.

Under the alliance, Oracle would be sponsoring the training of trainers and providing the software for the institutions, he said.

Academic pricing (with discounts of up to 90 per cent) are also being offered on a range of Oracle software, which can be used by the educational institutions for their internal administrative requirements.

Through the alliance, a number of students would also have the opportunity to do work experience with Oracle during the summer months. Their engagement with the local ICT industry would be sponsored by Oracle.

Free Oracle software (the latest versions of their products) will be given to students following ICT courses at the university and MCAST.

Oracle would also be supporting young entrepreneurs and start-up companies, waiving fees to be part of its partner network, which would provide them with "tremendous exposure" through marketing to reach otherwise unavailable distribution channels. The initiative would help Malta reach its National ICT Strategy target of assisting at least 10 new ICT start-ups a year, Dr Gatt said.

Dr Gatt said the initiative would also help Malta reach its National ICT Strategy target of participating in at least 20 EU-funded projects by the end of the term.

The alliance has allowed the government to team up with another ally in its fight to eradicate the digital divide, Dr Gatt said. In fact, the Oracle Workforce Development Programme will provide training for the unemployed and people seeking to re-enter the workforce.

Oracle's senior vice-president Alfonso Di Ianni said he was highly impressed with Malta's National ICT Strategy and considered the situation to be a "golden opportunity" due to the country's strong foundation. Oracle, he added, has dealt with several other countries but it has "never come across such a well-thought-out communication vision" as well as political and social aims to achieve "concrete results".

Last year, Oracle opened an office in Malta to coordinate its initiatives with the private and public sector.

All big multinational ICT players, including Microsoft, HP, Cisco Systems, ESRI, IBM, Accenture, SAP and Oracle, are setting up a legal entity in Malta, manned by local personnel, rather than just working through local re-sellers, or representatives.