An F.O.I. Delegation headed by president Joe Zammit Tabona held discussions with Economic Services Minister Professor Josef Bonnici on a number of issues that included:

¤ suggestions for a joint Government/FOI effort to boost the image of Malta-made products, their visibility with the Maltese public, and especially the younger generation's perception of industry and the opportunities it offers as a career.

¤ collaboration of the FOI on the National Development Plan that is being prepared;

¤ the action required to achieve consensus on port reforms with a view to drastically reduce the above- average costs that industry has to pay for unloading and transport of merchandise at the ports;

¤ the need to work on indicators of competitiveness as a means to identify problem areas and bring about an improved environment that encourages industry to expand its production base in Malta; and

¤ the means to prevent resolving the problem of price and/or substandard dumping of imported merchandise, which pose as unfair competition with locally manufactured products.

Accompanying Mr Zammit Tabona for the meeting were deputy president Anton Borg, vice-president Joe Pace and director-general Edwin Calleja.

Anti-dumping legislation should be introduced, forcefully implemented and monitored.