1. 1 Latvian Information Technology and Telecommunications Association LITTA Latvia@World an Information Society project October 2004

2. 2 Objectives of the project  To assist Latvia’s population in overcoming the digital divide and social exclusion  To promote access to public and private business services available on the Internet  To accelerate the development of Information society in remote regions LITTA is ready to act as initiator and catalyst by enlisting the resources of the public sector and of private industry

3. 3 Promoting Information Society The Information society is a prerequisite for sustained economic development of the country It is the first step towards Knowledge economy, focused on high value-added products and services The success of the development of Information society depends upon reaching a critical mass of IT literate users It is planned to initiate 180 000 new users in small towns and rural areas to Internet services and to make 1000 public access points (PAP) available

4. 4 Economically active population in the Baltics (15-74 years old) Latvia 1 818 000 Estonia 1 047 000 Lithuania 2 625 000 (CSB data, 1.01.2002) In Latvia 10% represents 180 000 people TNS in Baltics: TNS Emor, BMF Latvia, TNS Gallup March-May, 2003

5. 5 ICT usage statistics Country PC users Population sample 1343 Internet users (within last 6 months) Active Internet users (at least 5 days a week) Latvia37%24%9% Estonia49%45%22% Lithuania34%23%9% TNS in Baltics: TNS Emor, BMF Latvia, TNS Gallup March-May, 2003

6. 6 Target audience (1)  Mostly SME employees, individual business people, small town and country-dwellers  Other target groups  Unemployed persons  People who need retraining  People with special needs  Library, school, municipal employees, who need to acquire supplemental abilities, at the ECDL level.

7. 7 Target audience (2)  People without any experience in using computers and the Internet  People who have some experience with computers but who have never used Internet services, such as on-line banking, paying utility bills, or e-mail The main objective is to promote e-inclusion by initiating people to use the Internet who would not be doing it normally.

8. 8 LATVIA@WORLDLATVIA@WORLD necessities 1. ICT infrastructure 2. Internet content, e-services 3. PC and Internet usage skills 4. Promotion of Information Society

9. 9 Promotion of Internet content and e- services Typical e-services  electronic banking, bill payments  electronic communications (e-mail, chat rooms, IP telephony)  Internet browsing for acquisition of information  public information portals (news, public data base inquiries)  entertainment, games, music  e-government services (municipal, national)  tourism offers and reservations (transportation, lodgings, attractions)  e-health services (medical appointments, diagnostics)  e-commerce  e-culture (encyclopaedias, museums, theatres, language skills)  distance learning  e-democracy (referenda, elections, opinion polls, public discussions)

10. 10 Advantages to the European Union  Objectives of the project coincide with eEurope 2005  Furthers the integration of the population into the EU  Speeds up regional development towards attaining the average EU level  Makes the products and services of businesses of EU member states more accessible in Latvia

11. 11 Advantages to public domain partners (state and municipalities)  Objectives of the project coincide with the priorities of the National development plan – promoting the Information society  Ensures wider use of e-government services  Assists in the development of favourable environment for regional business activities

12. 12 Advantages to business partners of L@W  Favourable publicity and public relations  Advertising for their services  Increased number of users for electronic services  Business process automation  Improved quality of services

13. 13 Potential sources of financing for upgrading and expanding the ICT infrastructure for setting up and implementing the training process for preparing funding applications  Investments by the Latvian government (ISB, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture), within the framework of the existing ICT project financing  Investments by the municipalities (e-government projects in Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja…)  Participation by national and international corporations  EU social funds, EU Programmes (IST, eTEN, eLearning, etc.) L@WL@W is designed as a PPP project

14. 14 Thank you for your attention! www.litta.lv