KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Information and communication technology (ICT) has been identified as one of the national economy's main catalyst, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said ICT was capable of moving the national economic value chain from that of a middle-income to a high income economy.

"Innovation and ICT will expedite economic growth and reduce the digital divide among the people, as well as give everyone equal opportunities," he said in a speech during the launch of the 1nita Project here on Tuesday.

Dr Ongkili said the 1nita Project was a government initiative to bring ICT to the grassroots and present ways for them to be more competitive with bigger businesses.

"The project funded under the second stimulus package aims to develop talent in ICT entrepreneurship, especially among women in small and medium enterprises (SME)," he said.

Meanwhile, .my Domain Registry chairman Datuk Noraini Ahmad said the 1nita Project would provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to build a strong business through the use of information technology and the Internet.

"Participants will be trained to develop an online business, network and create an e-marketplace which offers extensive e-commerce opportunities," she said in her speech at the ceremony.

She said women entrepreneurs were becoming more important to the country's economy and development.

"According to statistics in 2005, women owned 82,911 or 16 per cent of the total number of SMEs in Malaysia. I am confident that this will increase," she added.

The 1nita Project, which started in the Klang Valley, will be extended to Melaka, Sabah, Sarawak and Kedah by year-end.