FOI discusses Lisbon Strategy

In the first week of May the Malta Federation of Industry had the opportunity to deliver a presentation on the Lisbon Strategy to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Competitiveness. The Prime Minister, who chaired the committee's first meeting, dwelt on the importance of the Lisbon Agenda for Malta's competitiveness and underpinned the importance of formulating a Lisbon Strategy Action Plan after a process of consultation and information gathering from all social partners.

He said this Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Minister Censu Galea, had to take the leading role in this course of action with a view to put real momentum in the process. The committee would be responsible for setting those priorities and objectives on which the country would then have to take concrete action.

Dr Gonzi also commented on the relevance of the manufacturing sector to the national economy and on the need to make the manufacturing sector more attractive. He argued that this sector is sometimes suffering from misconceptions and deserves a better image.

The opening address by FOI president Adrian Bajada centred on the importance the federation has been constantly directing to the debate about the Lisbon Agenda and how this strategy could contribute to enhance Malta's competitiveness.

Mr Bajada said the federation had always stressed that the future of the local manufacturing industry depended more and more on its strength to compete in the international markets. The federation strongly believes that Malta has the potential to turn the situation in its favour, he added.

FOI director general Wilfred Kenely delivered the presentation on the Lisbon Strategy, which centred on the significance of how Malta's weak delivery on the Lisbon objectives is hindering the potential for growth of Malta's manufacturing sector and how the sector's competitiveness was at risk if long-standing reforms were not undertaken.

Mr Kenely focused in particular on employability, education and training, the liberalisation of markets, regulatory burdens, limitations in infrastructure, high bureaucracy and government-induced costs, the delivery on structural reforms, Malta's macro-economic outcomes, and taxation levels.

Malta needs a national action plan, laid on the policy foundations of the Lisbon Strategy, to prioritise its objectives and endorse a roadmap that releases the country from its rigidities and allow enterprises to grow and become more competitive, he said.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Investment, Industry and Information Technology Austin Gatt; Minister Galea; Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Dolores Cristina; Minister of Education, Youth and Employment Louis Galea; Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Tonio Fenech; Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Self Employed Edwin Vassallo; and top government officials.

Following this meeting, the FOI delegation, also comprising of deputy president Martin Galea, vice-president Helga Ellul, and executive Kevin Caruana, also attended a meeting with the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, which is chaired by Dr Jason Azzopardi and comprises of Clyde Puli, Dr Mario de Marco, Dr Michael Axiaq, Dr Michael Frendo, Dr George Vella, Evarist Bartolo, Dr José Herrera and Leo Brincat, had invited all employer bodies and trade unions to outline their views on the Lisbon Agenda.

The FOI, Chamber of Commerce and Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, through the Malta Business Bureau (MBB), presented their joint position on the Lisbon Strategy. MBB president Justin Zammit Tabona delivered this presentation.