Maltese government receives tech-savvy certificate

The World Economic Forum has ranked the Maltese government as the second most successful administration in the world in promoting the use of information and communications technologies.

Malta is also the world leader in high-speed monthly broadband subscription according to the WEF's Global Information Technology Report 2006-2007.

Malta is in the top 10 rankings for the priority the government gives to ICTs for the availability and efficiency of online services and for the per capita quantum of high-tech exports.

However, Malta's business readiness in the ICT sector leaves much to be desired.

For the first time, Denmark tops the overall rankings of the 122-country report, followed by Sweden and Singapore. Malta ranks in 27th place, up three places from the previous year.

The US loses its top position and drops six places to seventh, mainly due to the relative deterioration of the political and regulatory environment. Italy and Greece lag behind in 38th and 48th places respectively.

Contacted by The Times, WEF senior economist Irene Mia hailed Malta's overall ranking, though she pointed out that there was still room for improvement in areas like bureaucracy and the quality of scientific research institutions.

Ms Mia said that Malta's size made it easier for the government to implement policies and strategies, as evidenced by the success of small countries like Estonia. But, of course, large countries have the advantage of market size and innovation.

"The Malta government is clearly pushing the (IT) agenda. The government now has the challenge to involve the private sector in a common strategy. That will be the ideal outcome," Ms Mia said.

The Information Technology Ministry patted itself on the back and described its ranking as the most globally visible and respected certificate issued yet of its success in the sphere.

"The recognition by the World Bank will no doubt again be noted by more investors seeking options on the global list of FDI destinations for their ICT projects," the ministry said.

The ranking demonstrates Malta's place as a centre of excellence in ICT and explains why it was chosen as the location for the first exportation of the SmartCity concept, the ministry added.

"Coming this far was merely the end of a concerted and coordinated effort by the government to realise the most ambitious vision any government of this country ever set itself."

In 1998, the government appointed the first e-minister in its ranks. Within two years it set up an e-Malta Commission with the task of implementing the government's strategic vision for the island to become a world ICT leader.

The government funded and provided training to eliminate ICT illiteracy and made computers and the internet a natural feature of schoolchildren's lives.

The government also led by example in transforming itself into one of the most technologically-savvy governments in the world providing the world's fifth highest ratios of its services online.

Malta's global performance, however, remains relatively weak among the local business community, which ranked 53rd in the take-up of technology.

This encourages the government to rearrange its priorities for the new ICT strategic period for 2007-2010 to ensure greater take-up by the commercial sector, the ministry said.

IT Minister Austin Gatt said: "This report is yet more evidence, if any was needed, of just how far we have come. The World Economic Forum is the ultimate testimonial in our sales portfolio on the world stage. This result will let us create more highly-paid jobs for our young people right here in Malta."

Area and ranking

Market environment: 38
Political and regulatory environment: 29
Infrastructure environment: 31
Individual readiness: 32
Business readiness: 53
Government readiness: 16
Individual usage: 37
Business usage: 40
Government usage: 4