Free Open Source Software (FOSS) has reached appropriate levels of maturity in terms of quality and reach and is also being adopted as a mainstream solution and an alternative to proprietary solutions.

The Malta Information Technology Agency (Mita) seeks to adopt cost-effective and non-disruptive OSS within the government and is therefore seeking open participation, collaboration and transparency through the creation of a Government of Malta Open Source End User Group to become a major driving force behind the evolution of Open Source initiatives in the country.

With its establishment, the Government of Malta Open Source End User Group will provide a platform for interested parties to actively participate in the overall Open Source strategy being actively pursued by government by presenting suggestions, feedback and recommendations on how to capitalise on the effective use of Open Source. This is in line with other initiatives intended to extend the reach of the continued embracement of so-called Open Government principles.

Mita, as chair, sees the user group as a major champion, contributor and driver for the adoption of Open Source-related concepts and technologies in government. In this regard the user group will consider and identify potential ways how to make government software available to the software development community via beneficial source based licensing terms. Participants are seen as fundamental players towards the dissemination of Open Source-related initiatives and the various points of view that will enrich the content of the relevant initiatives. The user group will include representative members from each government ministry and potentially participants from public administration, solution and training providers, educational institutions and other professionals.

The first meeting of the Government of Malta Open Source End User Group will be held on April 30 at 2 p.m. at Mita, Gattard House, Blata l-Bajda. Interested participants can send an e-mail to Mita on oss.mita@gov.mt.

Mr Bugeja is an enterprise architect at Mita.

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