Representations on sugar import subsidy scheme

Vice-President Joe Pace led an FOI delegation at an urgent meeting with Louis Cilia, permanent secretary at the Ministry for Competitiveness, on the announced sugar import subsidy scheme.

The meeting was called to discuss and clarify the long list of queries raised by various FOI members on the proposed scheme, as well as the importance of an extension to the proposed closing date of the scheme.

Mr Cilia was accompanied by Commerce Division director-general Godwin Warr; Noel Bartolo, director (Small and Business and Crafts) of the Commerce Division; Antonio Ghirlando, Paying Agency director within the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment; Richard Cachia Zammit from the Commerce Division; and Joe Vella, head of Secretariat, Ministry for Competitiveness.

From the FOI side, Mr Pace was accompanied by FOI director-general Edwin Calleja and FOI executive Cecilia Vella, as well as representatives from some FOI member companies operating in the food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

Following the meeting on June 25, the FOI was advised that the closing date for submissions of applications for this scheme was extended to last Friday. Furthermore, a fresh set of 11 different application forms were drawn up that took into account the various amendments proposed by the FOI delegation.

Moreover, the FOI also sent a letter to the Ministry for Competitiveness expressing its dissatisfaction about the high level of bank guarantees being demanded for the granting of the subsidy and the delay in the clearance of these guarantees.

In an effort to improve the situation for industry, the federation submitted a number of alternative routes the Government could implement as opposed to the proposed bank guarantee. The federation encourages government to re-consider the conditions of the guarantee.