Muscat not averse to outsourcing public sector work to private business

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat gave members of the Chamber of Commerce heartening words of his government's belief in private initiative, saying he was not averse to outsourcing public sector work to private business "if a better job can be done."

Delivering his off-the-cuff speech at a business lunch at the Chamber's premises in Valletta, Muscat said that even though "a social democrat at heart, we must accept to consider the private sector when it can do a better job than government: its involvement is no luxury but a necessity."

Muscat told businessmen in attendance that his government's land reclamation project, which is unveiled today, was one such example of private involvement in government projects.

"I believe we are on the same page and speaking the same language. I was recently asked by a foreign journalist where I would like to see Malta in the next five years, and it's to have the island on any investor's shortlist, worldwide. More must be done to ensure Malta is automatically considered by investors, because all things considered we have a killer proposition, a good economy and good human resources," Muscat said.

The prime minister also said his government was seeking active ways of tackling bureaucracy, which he admitted to "hating", but gave credit to what he termed "a great degree of legislative agility".

"We are trying to make Malta accessible to investors... we intend on creating a citizenship and visa agency in the coming months, so that visas are given on time and to see that business opportunities do not fall through because of bureaucracy."

Muscat also said that while Malta should not underestimate the European market as its largest of trade partners, the government will be looking towards China, Canada, and emergent markets in North Africa to create more business opportunities.

On his part, the Chamber's new president David G. Curmi told Muscat that his association's main concern was not with fiscal overspending, but fears of economic stagnation.

Curmi referred to the international economic climate and declared that Malta must aim for growth. He said that the Malta Chamber believed that national competitiveness was the only determinant to growth. "Growth is the 'be all and end all' of Malta's path to future prosperity", he said.

"The real solution lies in combining EU reforms with local reforms," Curmi said.

"Political leadership and determination are essential. But we need long-lasting, sustainable solutions for growth."

Curmi pledged the Chamber's commitment and eagerness to work closely with government in order to find the necessary solutions in the interest of the country's well-being and in order to mobilise investment, facilitate access to credit and focus on growth rather than austerity.

The Chamber acknowledged the projects and initiatives - for which "expressions of interest" were recently issued - as drivers for growth in the coming years and months. Government's pro-activeness in re-instating the Global Residence Scheme was similarly acknowledged as a means to stimulate a wide range of business sectors which this scheme will impact in a more than positive way.

Curmi announced that the Chamber was in the process of mapping out an Economic Vision for Malta for the 2014-2018 period. To this end, it formed a "high profile think-tank" made up of a select group of entrepreneurs and CEOs from within its membership base to contribute towards the process, which will commence in the coming days and is expected to be finalised by October.

"Give us the right environment for business to invest and prosper and let us do the rest. Let us together give economic growth a chance. Our members will not let this country down," he concluded.

The Chamber of Commerce is currently finalising its economic vision for Malta, which it will present to the MCESD and the Prime Minister.