The ‘ Kick-Start ’ Programme

2. 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 www.miti.gov.mt

3. 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

4. Small and MicroAssistance 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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. www.ebusinesslex.net

16. 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.