Sixty units for SMEs planned

The Malta Development Corporation has approved a project which will lead to the creation of 60 units/workshops for small enterprises in Hal Far, Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici said yesterday.

The units will be located in a largely unused factory. The Lm3 million project, which is partly sponsored by HSBC, will be run by the private sector.

During a news conference held shortly after a televised conference by Opposition leader Alfred Sant about the self-employed, Prof. Bonnici urged the Labour Party to stop manipulating statistics to suit its cause.

For example, he said, figures being cited by the MLP on the number of self-employed failed to take into account the 800 impressed drivers who used to appear as self-employed until 1998 but were now working on contract.

When that was factored in, the number of self-employed between 1998 and 2002 increased by 453.

Prof. Bonnici spoke of the benefits awaiting SMEs once Malta joined the EU, a fact, he said, that was recognised by the constituted bodies - with the exception of the Labour Party.

The minister promised that the setting up of Malta Enterprise would facilitate the functions and operations of all businesses, as it would create the "one-stop-shop" concept.

"The Nationalist Party is a guarantee for the self-employed and small business, and can boast an impeccable track record for the creation of wealth in the country."

On the other hand, a Labour government had always led to uncertainty and stagnation in the business sector, the minister said.

Prof. Bonnici dismissed suggestions made by Dr Sant that he would reintroduce levies on agricultural products, saying this would go against World Trade Organisation regulations.

Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said that contrary to the claims made by Dr Sant, bureaucracy in the SME sector was down. This was thanks to initiatives such as the creation of the trading licensing unit which had simplified work immensely, Mr Vassallo said.

This was evident from the 700 new business licenses which have been issued this year alone.