PN will continue helping self-employed

The economic activity witnessed in several shopping areas around Malta and Gozo shows that the self-employed and small businesses are not only investing more in their business but are also focusing on the quality of the products they offer, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Competition, he said, not only means offering better prices but better quality products too.

Dr Gonzi was speaking at the end of a visit to several shops in Fgura where he met a number of consumers. He said the economic activity that he witnessed during his visit was the main reason for the employment levels in Malta, while those registering for unemployment were on the decline.

Speaking about the Nationalist Party's proposals for the next legislature, Dr Gonzi said a PN government would continue creating incentives for the self-employed. He highlighted the party's proposed tax cuts and cheaper licences for businesses.

Asked about the proposal to give every family 10 energy-saving bulbs over a two-year period, Dr Gonzi said that apart from being an environment-friendly proposal, the bulbs would save families up to €200 (Lm85.86) annually on their electricity bills, which is more than what most families pay in surcharge.