Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1093354
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MARCH 2019 DIGITAL INNOVATION LAST year, the country be- came a pioneer by creating the Malta Digital Innovation Au- thority (MDIA), a regulatory authority responsible for pro- moting governmental policies aimed at positioning Malta as a centre for excellence for digital innovation. Our vision is to make Malta a model nation where AI policy has a positive impact on its citizens and businesses. During the last four months, the Malta. AI Taskforce has worked hard to define the areas that the Strategy will address as well as the foundational pillars and enablers that will underpin it. The outcome of this work is a high-level policy document which sets out the vision, ob- jectives and policy considera- tions that will guide the Na- tional AI Strategy. We are inviting interested stakeholders to provide feed- back on this interim document and suggest ideas which could be taken into consideration when the Malta National AI Strategy is developed over the next six months. The Strategy that is being de- veloped aims to map the path for Malta to gain a strategic competitive advantage in the global economy as a leader in the AI field, generating invest- ment and positioning the coun- try as a hub for AI applications and niche areas of research and development, supported by a vibrant start-up community. The Strategy aims to be ex- pansive, looking at the impact of AI both commercially and socially, the areas of opportu- nity and the need for special consideration, if not regula- tion, where AI use-cases po- tentially intersect with our national priorities, values and citizen rights. The Strategy will also explore how AI can be de- ployed widely across Govern- ment operations to improve citizens' experiences, expand access to public services, and to directly improve citizens' well-being. It will set out policy measures to promote private sector AI adoption as well as educational and workforce considerations, to better pre- pare our current and future generations to prosper in a dig- ital world increasingly defined by automation. The much anticipated doc- ument, Malta: Towards a High-Level AI Policy, will be launched at a public event on 21st March 2019 at the Corin- thia St George's Bay, St Julian's by the Parliamentary Secre- tary for Financial Services, the Digital Economy and Innova- tion Silvio Schembri who will be providing further details on how Malta will become amongst the top 10 nations in the world with a policy for Ar- tificial Intelligence. The future is digital across the board and Malta is prepar- ing itself for the opportunities it will bring about. Wayne Grixti is Chairman of Malta.AI Taskforce Wayne Grixti Towards a high-level AI policy THE government has once again launched the scheme refunding extra tax paid on vehicle registration between 2004 and 2008. This year, vehicles reg- istered in Malta from 1st January 2008 until 31st December 2008 are eligible. "This is a Government which plans and works, a Government which de- livers what it has promised. Above all, it is a Government which distributes wealth to its people," Transport Min- ister Ian Borg said. He said this scheme, introduced in 2014, was giving back money which was unjustly paid by vehicle owners who registered their vehicles between 2004 and 2008. "This time we are launching this scheme with a difference, because we will once and for all be concluding a chapter of an injustice which hap- pened between year 2004 and year 2008. This year we will be giving back around €4.9 million to more than 6,300 eligible people," he said. "This is the greatest amount we have ever given, so that in total the Maltese Government will have given back €23.6 million for almost 29,000 vehicles." Borg s a i d the Government remained committed to distributing wealth in every sector, including the transport sector. With regards to incentives for sus- tainable transport, Borg said that, in 2018, people had benefitted from more than €3 million when investing in more sustainable vehicles and the same incentives. The Minister noted the €2.2 million invested in 2018 so that more than 24,000 youths ben- efitted from free public transport, and this year Government has increased the investment to €3.3 million for all youths aged 14 to 20 and all full-time students aged 21 and over. "We need to remember that this is money that can remain in the pock- ets of youths and of our families and this is how we can see that this Gov- ernment is committed to witness our country's successes being enjoyed by all those who deserve it – by the Mal- tese and Gozitan people. Above all we can see that we have a Government that is working hard on every level, in every sector," Borg said. Finance minister Prof. Edward Sci- cluna said the Government was able to provide these benefits due to the im- pressive growth of the Maltese econ- omy, which grew at an average yearly rate of 7.1% from 2013 to 2018. "This is a huge leap when compared to the average rate of 2.1% economic growth during the period between 2007 and 2012," he said, "Contrary to previous administra- tions, this Government did not make promises and then not deliver but rather acted correctly and delivered on its commitments." As was announced in the last Budg- et, Government will be refunding the amount equivalent to extra tax paid on registration to vehicle owners who reg- istered their vehicle between 1st Janu- ary and 31st December 2008. From this total, one needs to subtract the amount of €110 (for vehicles) or €55 (for motorcycles) which was already paid back in 2014 when this scheme was announced for the first time. The refund will be sent as one payment through a cheque which will be sent to the address provided in the appli- cation form to eligible vehicle owners. In the coming days, Transport Malta will be notifying eligible applicants in writing about this scheme. Applicants who receive this notification should verify their personal details, sign and send the application form back to Transport Malta by not later than 26 April to one of these addresses: Grant Scheme, Transport Malta, A3 Towers, Triq l-Arkata, Raħal Ġdid or Għotja ta' Darba, Ministeru għal Għawdex, Pjazza San Franġisk, Rabat, Għawdex. Vehicle owners who had registered a vehicle for personal use between 1st May 2004 and 31st December 2007 who are eligible for the scheme but who had not applied in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018 can still submit an application form which can be ob- tained from Transport Malta until 26th April 2019. For more information or assistance, one can either call on the Freephone 8007 2373 from Monday to Friday be- tween 8am and 3pm or send an email on: grantscheme.tm@transport.gov. mt €23.6 million given back to almost 29,000 vehicle owners for extra tax charged between 2014 and 2018 Ministers Ian Borg (centre) and Edward Scicluna (right) reiterated government's commitment to distributing wealth in every sector