• • they increase productivity they manage change more efficiently. The EU efforts defined in the i2010 strategy for the establishment of a competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy will largely depend on the opportunities for development and the prosperity of SMEs. In this context, ICT not only provide products that are innovative by their nature, but they are also among the major driving forces of change in the contemporary economy. Knowledge has become a very important production factor in the leading economies. Transition to economy led by new knowledge is a priority of the EU political agenda “godigital”. e-Economy introduces new opportunities for the SMEs, in the ICT industry as well as in other sectors. Its influence varies from sector to sector. With e-Economy, SMEs can achieve the desired goals: • much more potential users (B2C), • to work more efficiently with other businesses (B2B), • to communicate with the Government (B2G). Hence, the goal should be two-fold: to improve the competitiveness of the ICT sector on one hand, and to facilitate efficient introduction and application of ICT in the SMEs on the other. In the last 15 years when the complete transition cycle was underway in the Republic of Macedonia, SMEs became the basis of the economic flows and undertook the role of leader and promoter of the new way of doing business and stimulated competition on the ICT market. A large number of small and medium enterprises have their own internet web page (although most of them do not have quality content, use outdated technology and design, or are still under construction) they have their own e-mail accounts and develop multimedia contents. However, there is a dilemma – why would they use and invest in advanced electronic communications – Internet, when the number of active users in the country is small and the number of new potential clients is consequently small. Still, enterprises that cooperate with foreign companies are aware of the advantages of the electronic communications, and how they reduce communication costs and increase the quality of their business operation. Internet became a basic need, and it is safe to conclude that the use of Internet is increasing. II.9.2. Measures to be taken In Europe more than two thirds of the SMEs use the ICT services as business tools. Data demonstrate that medium enterprises have already overcome the gap with the large enterprises, while small and micro enterprises are catching up fast. In order to accelerate this process in the Republic of Macedonia, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia should: Page 28 of 40