CUPRINS - Universitatea George Bacovia

EU-Accession Of Cyprus: Implications And Challenges For EnterprisesooooParticipation in EU programs for the promotion of cooperationbetween Cypriot and EU entities for training schemesPromotion of training programs for the use and diffusion of ICT(see below for more on this issue)Promotion of programs for the upgrading of managerialcompetencies at the place of workPromotion of new methods and concepts in the organization anddevelopment of enterprises4.2.5. Utilization and Diffusion of ICT: Determinants of Productivity GrowthIn the context of adopting the Lisbon agenda and responding to the globalchange drivers, Cyprus has given special emphasis in promoting the necessarymeasures in the information and telecommunications technology (ICT) area,including the following:• Promotion of EU standards with regards to ICT, including the protectionof citizens’ rights for the privacy of personal information• Emphasis of the subject of ICT in education and the connection ofeducational institutions with the Internet.• Encouragement of E-Commerce• Upgrading of telecommunication connections of Cyprus with theneighboring countries• Upgrading of the labor force in ICT issues and creation of specific trainingprograms in ICT.Over the last couple of years, considerable progress has been achieved inmeeting these targets: the preparation of a National Strategy for the Developmentof Information Society has just been completed, new legislation transposing the EUacquis with regard to eCommerce and eSignatures is in place, eGovernment planshave been further implemented and the use of ICT in schools has been significantlyfurther advanced. Noteworthy is also the provision as from the beginning of 2004of web-enabled services for income tax returns as well as for customs clearing. Inaddition, the support for R&D activities and innovation has been strengthened withthe latest figures of 2002 showing an increase in absolute terms of R&D spendingof 23,4% over the previous year, while the R&D spending as a percentage of GDPhas increased from 0,27% in 2001 to 0,32% in 2002.Appendix 7 lists some selective indicators relating to the knowledge-basedsociety, indicating that much progress has been achieved, but that there are stillconsiderable gaps in some areas in reaching the EU standards. This points to thefact that the transition process needs to be speeded up.211