The ‘Kick-Start’ Programme Translates strategic objectives 6 and 7 of the National ICT Strategy into a set of initiatives Objectives: Promote the ICT culture in SMEs with the objective of making them derive the benefits of introducing ICT in their operations Enable and empower the local businesses to gain access to the larger global market by participating in the e-Business community Document may be downloaded from

The ‘Kick-Start’ Programme Capacity Building Trustmark, Assistance Packages, Roadmaps, Mentorship Awareness and Training Awareness campaigns, Training (Basic and Specific) Support Measures Statistics Stakeholders FOI, CoC, GRTU MCA VSAs and other commercial parties through an RFP Presented and discussed during the 7th NISCO meeting

Small and Micro Assistance Packages Development of sector based Roadmaps –Printing and Publishing –Wholesale and retail of domestic goods –Food and Beverage –Educational services –Crafts Provision of Business Assistance Packages in partnership with VSAs and leading IT solution providers A Mentorship Programme to assist small and micro enterprises implement ICT solutions on the lines of the roadmaps.

Awareness and Training Awareness Informative campaign targeting consumers (e- Commerce) to reach all households – TRUST Informative campaign targeting SMEs – Benefits Training Basic awareness course for micro enterprises Advanced courses – CRM, ERM, e-Marketing etc. MyWeb for industries CTLCs – MAP programme

E-Commerce Framework Phase 1 - Gap Analysis Identify the elements that facilitate/hinder the take-up of e-Commerce by local enterprises and local consumers Phase 2 – National E-Commerce Framework Provide all the necessary information to businesses that want to venture into e- Commerce activity

Trustmark Scheme Objective: Increase consumer and business confidence in online trade EuroLabel The scheme will offer: Accreditation mechanism An online business portal for accredited entities Label authentication mechanism A rating system based on a per-purchase basis

Other Initiatives Statistics e-Business survey to include micro enterprises Added additional items to household survey G2B services Business Entry Portal Additional new services Intermediary Services E-Marketplaces and E-Malls M-Commerce

Supporting E-Business European e-business support network e-bsn. Available incentives –Tax Credits –Training for Industry –Online services Planned activities –E-business Advisors

e-Business Tax Credits The e-business tax credits aim to support the uptake of e-commerce. –The tax credit is available for developers and users. –The tax credit is 17.5% of the total investment in Information and Communication technology needed to complete an eligible project. –Developers may benefit from an extra 10.5% on other (non IT) investments required to complete the project.

e-Business Tax Credits (for developers) A developer is an enterprise that is mainly engaged in operating, developing and maintaining systems that enable e-commerce. Eligible projects are information and communication systems that provide an infrastructure for other business to integrate electronic commerce in their business operations. –On-line shopping malls –E-marketplaces –Payment gateways

e-Business Tax Credits (for users) A user is an enterprise that adopts e-commerce systems provided by a developer to enable its e-commerce operations. Eligible projects are electronic commerce solutions that result in electronically transaction with business partners, suppliers or customers. Examples include: –Business to Business Systems –On-line shops

Other Tax Credits The Business Promotion Act Reinvestment tax credits. –The reinvestment tax credit supports micro enterprises through a tax credit on profits reinvested in capital expenditure. Such reinvestment may be used to improve the ICT setup of the enterprise. Professional Capacity building –These tax credits aim to support the human resource development in vendor specific ICT related course.

Training Malta Enterprise periodically offers courses to support SMEs. –ICT for Small enterprises. –Web marketing. MyWeb for industry –Developing ICT literacy of employees in large enterprises. E-business Awareness course –This course is currently being developed and aims to provide small businesses a practical hands on introduction on e-business.

Online Services Support Measures Database –An online service that provides information on the support available to enterprises in Maltese. ICT Directory –The directory is a versatile tool for the ICT industry and for any enterprise investing in e-business. Ebusinesslex.net –This portal provides European small and medium enterprises with information on all legal aspects of e- business.

E-Business Advisor The e-advisor programme will support the implementation of the e-business roadmaps currently being developed by providing mentoring services. The e-advisor will facilitate enterprises in implementing of e-business projects as identified in the sectorial roadmaps by: –helping the enterprise develop a business case that justifies the e-business project; –helping the enterprise to prepare and develop implementation plans for ICT and e-business initiatives; –supporting the enterprise in identifying, selecting and evaluating ICT and e-business solutions.