STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND COMMUNICATIONS

“OUR NATION’S COMPETITIVENESS”

Whilst government, in close collaboration with the key social and economic stakeholders, is committed at putting forward high on its agenda the national issue of competitiveness, it has to be understood that this is a priority to be shouldered by all and not by a selected few.

Industry, businesses, small and medium enterprises, the public and private sector are all key elements in ensuring that these goals can be met, leading thus to a successful economic growth and wealth. Government is setting the parameters: a reduction in our national deficit complimented by an exercise of accountability and excessive expenditures are paramount to the achievement of a competitive internal market.

Whereas government has the main responsibility to work out these set targets, it is indeed for the nation to adopt and implement. Competitiveness strikes our social strata at all its levels, thus making everyone understand that an individual commitment is both for the well-being of the respective entrepreneur which coupled with others leads to a nationwide effect.

· We can no longer afford that whilst government is doing its utmost to curb non environmental friendly issues, the culture that domestic dumping is permitted in our countryside, roads, fields and several other spots of the country is accepted;

· We cannot afford that bureaucracy rules in many national institutions where customers seek to receive a service. Government has long earmarked this, but it is also an internal change in culture to be shifted from the directors, to heads and employees respectively;

· Neither can we afford lingering in time and still accept obsolete work practices merely for the sake of tradition. If change is needed, then it has to be done;

· It is time that we realise the necessity of standards as an asset to our provision of services and products;

· Time to realise that the consumer pays money to receive optimal quality;

· Time to realise that in overcharging and providing poor standards, it is only the country which is receiving a bad reputation, thus leaving it out of the competitiveness sphere when compared to other nations.

Above all it is high time to realise, that yes, government is there to put forward the political agenda and implement across the board. But it is the nation as a whole, within all individual responsibilities that should realise, that times have changed and the more we deliver, the more we produce, the more we provide a high quality service at a reasonable price, the more this Malta can be competitive and succeed in its goals of achieving a dynamic economy leading in turn to an acceptable economic growth.

The social and economic partners within the MCESD are doing a sterling job through their input in such discussions. This is a prime example whereby the issue ‘competitiveness’ is adopted by all.

The Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications has today convened the first meeting of the Ministerial Competitiveness Forum aimed at discussing specialised issues directly affecting our country’s competitiveness and, maturely, within established parameters, seeks at enhancing and achieving this national responsibility.