Government to hold consultation process on bureaucracy

This summer the government will hold a consultation process in which it will discuss its plans to reduce bureaucracy, Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia said.

Farrugia, responsible for the simplification of government processes and planning, explained that the government is committed to reduce bureaucracy by 25% and the consultation process would include citizens, the business community and public service employees.

"We want the civil servants to own the reforms in reducing bureaucracy," Farrugia said. He added that the consultation process follow the appointment of Michael Falzon, the newly appointed commissioner against bureaucracy.

The minister for economic affairs Chris Cardona and the parliamentary secretary for economic growth Edward Zammit Lewis also addressed the press conference.

Cardona said that 28 investors had so far shown an interest in the government's plans to turn the former Malta Shipbuilding yard into a state of the art maritime hub.

Listing the number of initiatives the government has launched in its first 100 days in office, Cardona said: "These schemes will not only attract foreign investment to our shores but they will also diversify our economy."

He added that the government was looking at maximising the potential of Maltese embassies abroad and changing the structures at Malta Enterprise to attract further foreign investment.

Cardona also explained that the government was in the process of launching a draft bill in Parliament aimed at changing various laws on public procurement, which would simplify legislation which affects SMEs.

The three Cabinet members pointed out that the initiatives undertaken by the government so far, are sending positive signals and highlighting the Global Residence Scheme aimed at attracting foreigners to take up Maltese citizenship and purchase property in Malta, Zammit Lewis said that these schemes would "foster economic growth and wealth which would then be shared by everybody."

He also noted that six companies had collected documents related to the expression of interest issued by the government for the licence for the running of a casino in Malta, while four companies had collected documents related to the expression of interest in the running of a casino in Gozo.

"This shows a healthy interest in the government's initiatives and the country's attraction to foreign investors," he said.