Chamber urges authorities to address competitiveness issues

The Malta Chamber of Commerce has urged government to address a number of competitiveness issues and pending reforms that are hindering business and the economy.

Addressing the Chamber's Annual General Meeting, President Tancred Tabone said even though 2011 was no easy year for business yet the Chamber managed to make a number of significant milestones for the benefit of business.

"Make no mistake, the coming months will be equally hard and we, the business community, must be up for the challenge," Tabone said yesterday.

Tabone appealed to the authorities to ensure that their work matches the Chamber's quest for competitiveness. 

"There are a number of structural issues to our competitiveness that remain unresolved.  In our opinion, one of the principal amongst these is the issue of COLA," Tabone said.

"The MCESD working group in which we actively participated agreed to the inclusion of productivity as a new element in the COLA formula under review.  However, we are still waiting for its implementation and we shall keep pressing for urgent closure."

Tabone also referred to the discussions on the pending Rent and Service Charges, which remains a pending issue, to the detriment of the manufacturing sector.

"We also need closure, once and for all, on the Eco-Contribution refunds.  This time last year, a legal notice was finally published to regulate the payment of such refunds.  But a year down the line from the legal notice and seven years after the first refunds became due; we are nowhere near receiving them.  We appeal to Government for urgent closure of this saga," Tabone said.

Tabone also said that throughout the course of the past twelve months, the Malta Chamber had proved its relevance to the country and to the business community. 

"I look forward to another year of hard endeavour, leading the Malta Chamber to further success for the benefit of members," he said, adding that the Malta Chamber would continue to urge our political leaders to focus on the real issues at stake.

"Furthermore, the Malta Chamber also appeals to the business community to remain focused.  As entrepreneurs, we need to concentrate on growth and we know that success depends on how competitive our businesses are," Tabone said.