Malta needs a strategy shared by all, government, firms and unions, by which to present a common stand to argue in Europe for a more flexible treatment regarding Malta’s manufacturing sector, not least by way of how state aid is allowed and disallowed. Otherwise, manufacturing will continue to shrink, making Malta too dependent on services for its exports. This was agreed during a meeting between Alfred Sant, Head of the Labour Delegation at the European Parliament and a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce in Valletta, which reviewed the situation of the manufacturing section.
The Delegation told Dr. Sant that under EU competition rules Maltese factories are having less and less space within which to benefit from incentives that can compensate them for the disadvantages caused by our insularity. This is making them less able to compete on EU markets with firms on the European mainland.
Dr. Sant assured the Chamber of Commerce delegation of his support in this field and suggested that the Chamber adopt a clear position with regard to the agreement between the EU and the US on a free investment and trade zone (TTIP) as well as on the prospect for China to be granted market economy status by the EU this year.
The delegation of the Chamber of Commerce was led by Mr Anton Borg – President of The Board of Management of the Malta Chamber and Mr Norman Aquilina – Chairman of the Manufacturers and Other Industries Economic Group.

Maltese Version – MALTA TEĦTIEĠ AKTAR FLESSIBILITA` MILL-UE DWAR IL-MANIFATTURA

Malta teħtieġ strateġija maqbula bejn il-gvern, kumpaniji u unions biex tippreżenta pożizzjoni komuni biex l-Unjoni Ewropea tagħti trattament flessibbli lis-settur tal-manifattura, mhux lanqas dwar kif tkun permessa jew miċħuda l-għajnuna tal-istat. Jekk ma jsirx dan, is-settur tal-manifattura se jibqa’ jmur lura u Malta ssir aktar dipendenti fuq is-servizzi għall-esportazzjoni. Dwar dan kien hemm qbil bejn Delegazzjoni mill-Kamra tal-Kummerċ u l-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew Alfred Sant f’laqgħa dwar is-settur tal-manifattura.
Id-Delegazzjoni qalet lil Dr. Sant li taħt ir-regoli tal-Kompetizzjoni tal-UE il-fabbriki Maltin qed ikollhom anqas u anqas spazju biex igawdu minn inċentivi li jikkumpensaw għall-iżvantaġġi kawżati mill-insularita` tagħna. Dan qed jagħmilha aktar diffiċli għall-fabbriki Maltin biex jikkompetu fis-swieq tal-kontinent Ewropew.
Dr. Sant wiegħed l-appoġġ sħiħ lill-Kamra tal-Kummerċ f’dan il-qasam. Huwa qal li l-Kamra tal-Kummerċ għandha tadotta pożizzjoni ċara dwar il-ftehim bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti għal żona ta’ kummerċ ħieles (TTIP). L-istess għandu jsir dwar il-prospett li ċ-Ċina tingħata status ta’ ekonomija tas-suq mill-UE dis-sena.
Id-delegazzjoni tal-Kamra tal-Kummerċ kienet immexxija mis-sur Anton Borg u s-sur Norman Aquilina.

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