ICT policy best practices discussed at Malta meeting

The fourth partner meeting of the ‘Promotion of ICT Usage as an Enabler of Value Networks Project’ was recently held in Malta.

This project brings together representatives from nine European regions and aims to identify, discuss, share and transfer policy best practices that have supported SMEs to adopt and make use of ICTs. Malta is represented in the consortium by the Malta Communications Authority.

During the two day meeting a number of ICT policy best practices were presented and analysed. Potential opportunities for experience transfers were also identified and the partners agreed on a roadmap where each would be accepting one best practice from a different region.

The ICT-VN project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the INTERREG IVC programme which helps regions of Europe share knowledge and transfer experience to improve regional policy. The project was launched in January 2010 and will end in December 2012.

“Europe needs to ensure that SMEs can benefit from ICTs as much as their larger counterparts. SMEs are not only strong economic pillars to the European economy and collectively a major employer, but are also a key contributor to cultural identity and social cohesion,” said MCA executive chairman Philip Micallef while welcoming participants to the meeting.

“Small firms have a role to play as they keep contributing in areas where others would not dare to venture but are yet critical for the wellbeing of society and the growth of the economy,” he said.