Some 72 per cent of the population has access to the internet while 65 per cent of the Maltese use the internet mainly for shopping, sending and receiving e-mails, researching information, browsing for products or services and reading newspapers.

Almost half of the Maltese population now shops online, with 48 per cent claiming that they did so in the last six months. Online purchases from Maltese websites doubled from previous years, with items such as flight reservations, and concert/event tickets topping the list.

These findings were presented at the 6th e-Commerce Forum organised by the Malta Communications Authority as part of the e-Commerce Household survey, which is commissioned by the authority on a yearly basis. The aim of the survey is to obtain an indication of the level of internet and e-commerce use across Malta and Gozo and the potential for growth.

The theme of this forum was ‘Empowering micro-enterprises through ICT’ and provided attendees with an understanding of the issues surrounding the adoption of ICT by micro-enterprises.

At the forum the MCA presented the findings of another study it commissioned of late, the ICT Skills Gap Analysis, which is one of the components of the EPITOME project, a project co-financed by the European Social Fund and National Funds.

Marika Fsadni and Irina Atanasova, from M. Fsadni & Associates gave a detailed overview of the methodology used to carry out the ICT Skills Gap Analysis and the resultant findings. Through a number of research phases the study mapped the current level of ICT skills and their application in the Maltese micro-enterprise and measured them against a benchmark set of skills required to enable the effective use of ICT in business. Furthermore, the Study examined the “gap” between the current and the required level of ICT skills of micro-enterprise owners and employees.

The findings of the Skills Gap Analysis Study will be used as a guide for the development of a bespoke training curriculum which will be the basis of a free training programme for employees of microenterprises to be delivered as part of the EPITOME project in the coming months

“Technology and communications are key ingredients of any strategy for achieving competitiveness in today’s global economy. Enterprises with employees having low levels of ICT skills are becoming increasingly vulnerable to mounting competiveness from more ICT-savvy enterprises,” commented Celia Falzon, chief of external relations of the MCA.

“Undoubtedly, ICTs open new opportunities, especially for micro-enterprises, to improve their business operations. Micro-enterprises therefore cannot afford to fall behind when it comes to keeping up to date with developments in the ICT field which may render them more competitive.”