Government sets up new agency to drive national IT strategy

A new government agency has been set up to drive forward the implementation of the national information technology strategy.

The Malta Information Technology Agency (Mita) will absorb into it the operations of the Malta Information Technology and Training Services Ltd., which provides information systems to the government, and a range of functions previously carried out directly by the ministry.

The Ministry for Communications said the government felt the need for a permanent agency to drive IT within the public sector and the wider community to ensure continuity in the effort which has since 2000 been led and managed directly by the minister responsible for information technology.

"The absence of a permanent structure within the public sector to manage this important policy area was a threat to the development of these policies in the long term," the ministry said.

The government has also decided to empower the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) to take over from the ministry the direct implementation of the efforts to upgrade Malta's external ICT environment; to eliminate the digital divide; and to promote e-commerce.

"The two organisations - Mita and the MCA - under the leadership of the ministry responsible for IT and communications, are expected to build on the successes acheived so far by the e-ministry that has led the transformation of Malta into a world class model of excellence in the area, a magnet for international investment and a genuinely e-inclusive society," the ministry said.

The new Malta IT agency will become the sole shareholder of Mitts Ltd and will eventually absorb that organisation as its operational arm.

Following Cabinet approval, Minister for Communications Austin Gatt yesterday appointed Claudio Grech (currently the CEO of SmartCity Malta Ltd and up to yesterday director of Mitts Ltd) as non-executive chairman of the agency.

All other former directors at Mitts Ltd have been confirmed as directors of Mita with the addition of Juan Borg Manduca (director of the ICT Institute at MCAST).

The rest of the board of Mita, to is composed of Godwin Grima (Principal Permanent Secretary and Cabinet Secretary) who will be Mita's deputy chairman, John Aquilina (CEO of the Management Efficiency Unit), and Joanna Genovese (director of the Staff Development Office).

The board of directors will also serve ex-officio as the board of directors of Mitts Ltd.

Dr Gatt thanked the outgoing chairman of Mitts Ltd, David Spiteri Gingell, for his sterling service to the organisation and his commitment to the development of ICT in the government.

Mr Spiteri Gingell resigned from his position to pursue a career in the private sector consultancy field.