ICTs Strategies for Islands and
Small States
17 - 19 March 1999 - Malta
About the Workshop
The proliferation and use of information and communication
technologies ( ICT ) is presenting opportunities and threats not
just to large countries but also to islands and small states. These
technologies can be both detrimental and beneficial and modern governance
is faced with formidable challenges to manage their development
and application.
In 1997 the United Nations Committee for Science
and Technology for Development published a report called Knowledge
Societies for Sustainable Development. It proposed and encouraged
governments to take ownership of ICT strategic development and to
initiate national ICT strategy activities as a proactive measure
towards meeting the challenges of the ICT global revolution.
In view of the universal applicability of these
technologies even islands and small states will be effected and
their size could be a strategic advantage because ICT strategies
could be implemented faster than in larger countries. However islands
and small states could also be vulnerable as they would initially
tend to lack knowledge and skills initially to develop and implement
their ICT strategies.
The workshop was intended to bring together various
experts in this field and to establish and promote best practice
through the sharing of knowledge and experiences. It was also envisaged
that collaborative mechanism would be established as a result of
the workshop to facilitate and assist islands and small states in
the development and implementation of their ICT strategies.
Target Audience
The target audience for this workshop were ICT policy
makers, specialists and executives from both public and private
sector organisations as well as development agencies.
Objectives of the workshop
To sensitise islands and small states to the crucial
need for ICT strategy formulation and implementation.
Identify specialists, funding and technological
resources which could be used for national ICT development.
Discuss and identify models for the organisation
of INTERNET user consortia enabling common interest groups to
secure quality services at cost-effective terms
Endeavour to establish mechanisms and modalities
which will facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, financial
and technological resources for national ICT strategy formulation
and implementation.
Sponsors :
The workshop was sponsored by UNESCO, the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Government of Malta.
Malta - The strategic
location of this small island in the centre of the Mediterranean,
has assured the Maltese a stage in every cultural and political
transformation affecting the region. Over the ages, the island has
been home to many traders; from Phoenician and Carthaginian, to
the Romans and Byzantines, the Arabs, the Knights of the Order of
St. John of Jerusalem, the French and finally, the British. Malta
gained its Independence in 1964.
Malta is a nation with European credentials and
yet very much multi-cultural and Mediterranean in character. As
its buoyant economy shifts in emphasis to major growth in the services
sector, the drive is on to build a sound Information Technology
and Telecommunications infrastructure - so important to sustain
services and to secure its national wealth.
The Government of Malta, along with strategic
changes taking place in the public sector, has taken decisive measures
to implement both national and public service I.T. strategies, with
particular emphasis being laid on education and human resource development.
The National
Commission for Information Technology ( NCIT )
The Islands and Small States Institute
|
