“Let us not let the pandemic limit our vision, our ambition, our optimism – we must look at new and sustainable prosperity for our country and our people” – Prime Minister Robert Abela at a business breakfast ‘Towards a New Prosperity’ inside the Excelsior hotel, in Floriana.
A new prosperity must be based on 5 pillars: governance, quality of life, education, infrastructure and the environment The Prime Minister announced that in the year of the pandemic Malta approved a total of 190 industrial projects that are expected to create more than 1,900 jobs with an investment of € 140 million On average, every two days a year of the pandemic Malta Enterprise approved a new project.
The economic success we have achieved so far, even in the midst of a pandemic, is still not enough, although it is good that we have continued to sustain the good that has been achieved in recent years. Let us not let the pandemic limit us in our vision, in our ambition, in our optimism, we must look at a new and sustainable prosperity for our country and for our people ”.
The Prime Minister mentioned how a little over a year ago during his campaign to become Leader and Prime Minister, the word ‘continuity’ meant the continuation of a program of progressive and continuous change. “This is the basis of the movement I have led,” said Robert Abela. “The great challenge that arose on us with the advent of the pandemic could not only stop our plans but even worse it could return to our country for the situation that was in me before 2013. A country with poor public finances and a national debt burden that hampers public investment. A country with a large proportion of the population is unemployed and dependent on social security. A country that has been hit one downgrade after another and ended up repeatedly under the excessive deficit procedure. That’s why we chose to be ambitious. Instead of a policy of austerity we meet this challenge with the largest budget of fiscal aid in the history of our country, which followed 3 other financial packages. Instead of doing what was done in 2009 when public investment was halved, we will double it and announce the largest industrial infrastructure project in the history of our country “, stressed the Prime Minister.
“This strategy has so far been a success. We are one of the few countries in the world where the number of jobs is still higher than a year ago. Instead of having an increase in those dependent on social assistance we had a decrease. Credit agencies, one after another, are confirming our A + rating and giving us stable returns, while giving downgrades to countries larger than it, ”said Dr Abela.
Prime Minister Abela announced that although our country, like the rest of the world, is in the middle of a pandemic, Malta has approved a total of 190 industrial projects that are expected to create more than 1,900 jobs with an investment of € 140 million. On average every two days of the pandemic year Malta Enterprise approved a new project. “All this could have been possible because despite the fact that in the year of the pandemic this Government was able to inspire confidence and subsequently businesses had the confidence to take steps to invest,” he said. Prime Minister Robert Abela while reminding that this is the opposite of what is happening beyond our borders. Prime Minister Abela said that there are those who say that we are not being realistic when in the current situation we are optimistic and ambitious. “I do not agree. Going in that direction would be a big mistake. As a progressive I will never limit our vision to continue building this country. ” Dr Abela referred to the announcement of the Government’s economic vision last August at a Cabinet meeting in the Chamber of Commerce. This vision is based on five pillars; governance, quality of life, education, infrastructure and the environment, and will be the main basis of the Government’s work.
On governance, the Prime Minister stressed that this is the most essential thing for the success of a modern economy. Today more than ever operating in a country with an efficient legal system, transparent administrative governance and a sound financial framework is the key to economic success. Mentioning how important it is to have a strong legal system to regulate the digital world, Dr Abela said the reforms we are making in the judiciary, regulatory agencies and police are essential to the digital revolution that we have to do. Good governance is an essential part of the infrastructure we need to provide to attract foreign direct investment from these new sectors as well as to enable us to nurture local talent in these areas. “Whoever thinks that after Moneyval the work of the Government will stop, is going to be a mistake. The Government’s governance program goes far beyond that “, reiterated the Prime Minister Robert Abela. Dr Abela also spoke about the quality of life and the need to attract more talent to the country. On this point the Prime Minister stressed that we need to be focused even when it comes to aid that is not a blanket but also focused. On education the Prime Minister said that this sector is important in order to have training for workers in the labor market. Finally, the Prime Minister also spoke about infrastructure and the environment in order to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.
Maltese
Is-suċċess ekonomiku li ksibna s’issa, anke f’nofs pandemija, xorta m’huwiex bizzejjed, għalkemm huwa tajjeb li bqajna nsostnu t-tajjeb li nkiseb fis-snin riċenti. Ejja ma nħallux lill-pandemija tillimitana fil-viżjoni tagħna, fl-ambizzjoni tagħna, fl-ottimiżmu tagħna, irridu nħarsu lejn prosperità ġdida u sostenibbli għall-pajjiżna u għall-poplu tagħna”.
Stqarr dan il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela waqt li kien qed jindirizza business breakfast organizzat mill-Gvern, bit-tema, ‘Lejn Prosperità Ġdida’ ġewwa l-lukanda Excelsior, fil-Furjana.
Dr Abela spjega li din il-prosperità l-ġdida hija bbażata fuq ħames pilastri ewlenin li fuqhom hija bbażata l-politika ekonomika ta’ dan il-Gvern. Dawn il-pilastri huma l-governanza, il-kwalità tal-ħajja, l-edukazzjoni, l-infrastruttura u l-ambjent.
Il-Prim Ministru semma kif ftit aktar minn sena ilu waqt il-kampanja tiegħu biex isir Mexxej u Prim Ministru, il-kelma ‘kontinwità’ kienet tfisser it-tkomplija ta’ programm ta’ bidla progressiva u kontinwa. “Din hija l-bażi tal-moviment li jien dħalt immexxi”, stqarr Robert Abela.
“L-isfida kbira li feġġet fuqna bil-miġja tal-pandemija setgħet mhux biss waqfet il-pjanijiet tagħna imma agħar minn hekk setgħet reġgħet lura lil pajjiżna għas-sitwazzjoni li kien fija qabel l-2013. Pajjiż b’finanzi pubbliċi mwiegħra u b’piż ta’ dejn nazzjonali li jxekkel l-investiment pubbliku. Pajjiż b’proporzjon kbir tal-popolazzjoni mhux taħdem u dipendenti fuq sigurta soċjali. Pajjiż li kien laqqat downgrade wieħed wara l-ieħor u spiċċa ripetutament taħt il-proċedura ta’ defiċit eċċessiv. Kien għalhekk li għażilna li nkunu ambizzjużi. Li minflok politika ta’ awsterità nilqgħu għal din l-isfida bl-akbar baġit ta’ għajnuna fiskali fl-istorja ta’ pajjiżna, li segwa 3 pakketti finanzjarji oħra. Li minflok nagħmlu bħal ma kien sar fl-2009 meta l-investiment pubbliku kien tnaqqas bin-nofs, nirduppjawh u nħabbru l-akbar proġett ta’ nfrastruttura ndustrijali fl-istorja ta’ pajjiżna”, saħaq il-Prim Ministru.
“Din l-istrateġija sa issa kienet suċċess. Aħna wieħed mill-ftit pajjiżi fid-dinja fejn l-ammont ta’ impjiegi għadu akbar milli kien sena qabel. Minflok kellna żieda f’dawk dipendenti fuq assistenza soċjali kellna tnaqqis. L-agenziji ta’ kredtu, waħda wara l-oħra, qed jikkonfermaw ir-rating A+ tagħna u jagħtuna prospetti stabbli, filwaqt li jagħtu downgrades lil pajjiżi akbar minnha”, qal Dr Abela.
Hawnhekk il-Prim Ministru Abela ħabbar kif minkejja li pajjiżna bħal kumplament tad-dinja, jinsab f’nofs pandemija, Malta approvat total ta’ 190 proġett industrijali li mistennija joħolqu aktar minn 1,900 impjieg b’investiment ta’ €140 miljun. Bħala medja kull jumejn fis-sena tal-pandemija Malta Enterprise approvat proġett ġdid. “Dan kollu seta’ jkun possibbli għax minkejja li fis-sena tal-pandemija ta’ dan il-Gvern kien kapaċi jispira l-fiduċja u b’mod sussegwenti n-negozji kellhom il-kunfidenza li jieħdu l-passi biex jinvestu” saħaq il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela filwaqt li fakkar li dan huwa bil-maqlub ta’ dak li qed jiġri lil hinn minn xtutna.
Il-Prim Ministru Abela sostna li hawn min jgħid li mhux qed inkunu realistiċi meta fis-sitwazzjoni preżenti nkunu ottimisti u ambizzjużi. “Jiena ma naqbilx. Jekk imorru f’dik id-direzzjoni jkun żball kbir. Bħala progressiv qatt mhu se nillimita l-viżjoni tagħna sabiex inkomplu nibnu lil dan il-pajjiż”.
Dr Abela għamel referenza għat-tħabbira tal-viżjoni ekonomika tal-Gvern f’Awwissu li għadda waqt laqgħa tal-Kabinett fil-Kamra tal-Kummerċ. Din il-viżjoni hija bbażata fuq ħames pilastri; il-governanza, il-kwalità tal-ħajja, l-edukazzjoni, l-infrastruttura u l-ambjent, u se tkun il-bażi ewlenija tal-ħidma tal-Gvern.
Dwar il-governanza l-Prim Ministru saħaq li din hija l-aktar ħaġa essenzjali għas-suċċess ta’ ekonomija moderna. Illum aktar minn qatt qabel li tkun topera f’pajjiż b’sistema legali effiċjenti, bi tmexxija amministrattiva trasparenti u b’qafas finanzjarju sod huwa ċ-ċavetta tas-suċċess ekonomiku. Filwaqt li semma kemm huwa importanti li jkun sistema legali b’saħħitha biex tirregola d-dinja diġital, Dr Abela qal li r-riformi li qed nagħmlu fil-sistema ġudizjarja, fl-aġenziji regolatorji u fil-puluzija huma essenzjali għar-rivoluzzjoni diġitali li rridu nagħmlu. Il-governanza tajba hija parti essenzjali tal-infrastruttura li rridu nipprovdu biex nattiraw investiment dirett barrani minn dawn is-setturi ġodda kif ukoll biex inkunu nistgħu nrawwmu talent lokali f’dan l-oqsma. “Min jaħseb li wara l-Moneyval il-ħidma tal-Gvern ser tieqaf, sejjer żball. Il-programm tal-Gvern fejn tidħol governanza jmur ferm aktar minn hekk”, tenna il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela.
Dr Abela tkellem ukoll fuq il-kwalità ta’ ħajja u l-ħtieġa li jkun attirat aktar talent lejn il-pajjiż. Fuq dan il-punt il-Prim Ministru saħaq li hemm bżonn li nkunu ffukati anke f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-għajnuna li ma tkunx waħda blanket imma anke ffukata. Fuq l-edukazzjoni l-Prim Ministru qal li huwa importanti dan is-settur sabiex ikun hemm it-taħriġ għall-ħaddiema fis-suq tax-xogħol.
Fl-aħħarnett il-Prim Ministru tkellem ukoll fuq l-infrastruttura u l-ambjent anke sabiex tintlaħaq il-mira ta’ carbon-neutrality.
