Digital plan targets online business

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte will today launch the Government’s National Digital Strategy which will place a strong emphasis on encouraging small firms to maximise their potential of doing business online.

The new strategy sets a target of getting 10,000 SMEs to develop an online presence for the first time by the end of 2014. A further 2,000 small firms will benefit over the next two years from a “trade online” voucher scheme which is being introduced on a pilot scheme in Dublin this autumn.

Each participating firm can receive up to €2,500 in matching funds which can be redeemed against the cost of establishing an online trading presence in a scheme being overseen by city and county enterprise boards.