Minister John Dalli attends launching of On Line Shopping on Internet

The Minister of Finance, Mr John Dalli, had words of appreciation for the staff of USHUA Communications, led by Mr Shajidas Palentakandi, for their innovative and creative ideas, that led to the introduction of an on-line shop on the internet in Malta.

The launching of the new service was held at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on Sunday morning, 11^thApril 1999.

During the inauguration, the Minister said that it is beneficial that Malta has this entrepreneurial culture, which serves as a catalyst for new ideas and further development in the information technology industry.

Mr Dalli said that progress is unstoppable and anybody trying to halt it, is doomed to be overrun by it. He continued that progress is beneficial to those who appreciate it, but detrimental to the people who are trying to fight it and cocoon themselves in ways and methods that have become archaic in today's competitive world. Trading on the web is a reality and those who fail to use modern technology to their advantage, end up being swept aside by this new type of trade that is happening worldwide.

The Minister of Finance concluded by saying that advances in technology and the introduction of new methods of trading are welcomed, encouraged, even adopted by government, whose aim is to widen and develop local markets and encourage globalisation.