Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea last week had a meeting in Brussels with Microsoft International president Jean Philippe Courtois during which they discussed Micro soft's ongoing investment in Malta.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Competitive-ness and Communications said that the meeting focused on Malta's preparedness for the IT age and how the Maltese authorities can better facilitate the investment being made by various international IT companies on the island. This, according to the spokesman, will enable Malta to become more competitive and also a world player in this field.

In Brussels, Mr Galea led a delegation made up of representatives of various private and public companies and authorities to Microsoft's Innovation and Research Day. The conference brought together researchers, academics, students, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and policy-makers to discuss the future of European innovation.

Delegates heard keynote presentations by Rock Rashid, senior vice-president of Microsoft Research, and by Mr Courtois.

Malta's participation was co-ordinated by Karl Diacono from Impetus Europe Consulting Group Ltd - a Malta-based company specialising in EU consultancy.