As port charges rise by five per cent today, the organisation representing SMEs has signalled it is willing to ask the European Commission to intervene.
“Tariffs are already not competitive and it costs €300 just to unload containers from the ship to the quay. From today, there will be a five per cent increase on the already high rates at the port,” Paul Abela, president of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, or GRTU, said.
He pointed out that the GRTU had already complained with Transport Malta about the tariff increase. It was ready to take up the matter with the government and even take its complaint to the European Commission if need be.
Transport Malta confirmed that the complaint filed by the GRTU about higher terminal handling charges by the Valletta port was being investigated.
A spokeswoman pointed out that the operator was entitled to an automatic increase in charges by virtue of a concession agreement signed in 2006.
Mr Abela was speaking while presenting the GRTU’s Budget proposals, including a 30 per cent slash in energy tariffs for small businesses. The GRTU, he warned, would step up its pressure on the government if bills were not slashed to retain a competitive edge.
He said that the GRTU was informed the government was buying energy through the interconnector for about 4c to 7c per unit. This, the BWSC’s improved efficiency and a drop in international oil prices were behind the call for the 30 per cent cut, which “was more than conservative”.
When asked about the costings done by the GRTU to draw up its conclusions, Mr Abela replied the government should be transparent and publish document to show how much it was purchasing energy through the interconnector.
Apart from cutting energy costs, the GRTU’s top priorities for this Budget include empowering SMEs to overcome digital challenges, setting up a start-up hub and easing traffic pressures.
CEO Abigal Psaila Mamo said traffic congestion and lack of parking space was affecting the productivity of businesses and the GRTU was calling for “aggressive measures” to incentivise people to drive outside peak hours.
The CVA system, charging motorists entering the capital, had to be revised because the parking problem in Valletta had not been solved, she said.
Budget proposals
• Alternative means of access to finance such as crowd funding and venture capital.
• A grant of €12,000 in professional advice and training to kick-start businesses.
• Development funding, such as tax credit, for those who take digital initiatives.
• Change the VAT law to promote locally produced works of art and crafts.
• A catamaran service be-tween Valletta and Gozo.