MITA was given €2.913,085 to carry out a project that is co-financed by a program of direct funds of the European Union and national funds. The program of the European Union is the Digital Europe Program, operated by the European Commission, to strengthen local cyber security capabilities and in the European Union.
This was announced during a news conference by the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett, by the Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana, by the Chief Executive of MITA Emanuel Darmanin and by the Chief Executive of European Services in Malta Mandy Falzon.
Through this project, a National Coordination Center will be set up, as in other member states, in order to build the necessary capacity in cyber security through cooperation and joint actions.
With the assistance of European Services in Malta, MITA established the objectives of this project where funds will be allocated to SMEs to invest in state-of-the-art solutions, including training to employees.
So that the project is reaching the highest level in its objectives, five areas in cyber security have been identified which are a priority for local SMEs. These areas focus on problems related to the digital sector that businesses in Malta encounter on a daily basis. Through these funds, businesses should find help to invest more in cyber security.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that through this project they will be helping businesses so that they too are protected when it comes to cyber security and this can have an effect on their business. Dr Bonett thanked European Services in Malta that through their assistance, MITA was able to acquire these funds.
MITA Chairman and Head of Public Service Tony Sultana pointed out that the work done in recent years has made MITA a national reference point in technology. He mentioned that this investment in cyber security will be another step forward for the agency to continue to affirm its credentials and to increasingly improve its services to the government in the use of technology.
The CEO of MITA Emanuel Darmanin spoke about the importance of this project and explained that MITA was given the responsibility of the National Coordination Center in cyber security for Malta and that it obtained €2.9 million to fulfill the objectives of this center within two years.
The CEO of European Services in Malta Mandy Falzon explained that this is another project in a chain of projects for which European Union funds were obtained with the assistance of this agency that helps non-governmental organizations, local councils and entities like MITA to carry out projects that address different needs of the communities in our country and that in different ways raise the quality of life of the citizens in our country.
