CONvErGE: A €40 million i Government’s ICT systems
Government has this week launched the CONvErGE project that will be delivered through an investment of €40 million. Through this project, Government will continue to strengthen the Public Services through the development of its ICT systems.
During the launch of this project, hosted at MITA’s Data Centre, the Honourable Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat recalled that he had the honour to launch the national digital strategy, known as Digital Malta, which is based upon the three main pillars of having digital citizens, businesses and Government.
The Honourable Prime Minister explained that it is fundamental to make continuous investment in order to achieve the best results. He said that in the last four years Government has invested heavily with more than €200 million from national funds being spent on the development of Government ICT systems. He emphasised about the importance of keeping this momentum and for this reason he said that Government is allocating these additional funds. €28.5 million will be coming from EU funds, whereas the other €11 million will be allocated from national funds.
In his speech, the Prime Minister explained that the next step to be taken, after a number of public services have been made available on mobile, was to create a number of new services that provide more benefits to citizens and. These funds will enable the development of new systems for various sectors, namely the health, social services, justice, public finance, tourism, emergency systems and business sectors. Apart from these new systems, the funds will also be used to strengthen the Government’s IT infrastructure.
The Minister for Digital Economy, Emmanuel Mallia said that he feels proud that our country managed to get these funds through which it will strenghten the implimentation of ICT within the public service. Minister Mallia explained that a considerable change will be made in how electronic public services are delivered.
More than €9 million will be used for the implementation of a national comprehensive infrastructure for health, know as the eHealth. Another €12 million will be used for a new system for Government public accounts and around €10 million will be allocated for a number of systems in several sectors, namely the customs, tourism, national security, justice, social services and businesses sectors. Finally, another €8 million will be invested in the ICT infrastructure that will not only be used by these new electronic services but also by new electronic services that can be built in the future.
Minister Mallia praised MITA’s instrumental involvement in achieving all of this and said that the agency is committed in providing assistance and support to all the Ministries involved so that the project is successful.