29 March 2005
The European Commissioner for convergence and IT in the European Union has spoken about how accessible technology and communications can boost jobs throughout the continent.
Viviane Reding said conditions are ripe for the take-off of a new industry based on high-speed communication services in Europe and investment must be made to see that results are secured.
Ms Reding called on Europe to look to the US and invest in ICT (information and communications technology).
"ICTs are responsible for 40 per cent of the productivity growth in Europe and 60 per cent of productivity growth in the USA. This is because the ICT sector itself is both high growth and high productivity. And a good deal of the difference between the USA and Europe can be explained by the fact that we are not as strong in the ICT industries," she said.
To encourage such growth Ms Reding announced a new initiative - i2010 - that she will bring forward in the next 2 months.
"This will harness regulation, innovation and research and government action in the development of a competitive Information Society. It will support convergence and innovation in order to deliver the growth and jobs that we need to implement the Lisbon Strategy. It will also seek to lever public action by turning inclusion challenges, such as demographic ageing, to our advantage," she said.© DeHavilland Information Services plc
Keep up to date with industry and Nomensa news by signing up to Nomensa newsletters.
