The government has, in the Budget, announced schemes to boost the 'creative economy'.

"The creative areas of the economy, which include ICT, films, arts and design, as well as performing arts and others, create a lot of high value added work, support other sectors within the economy, like tourism, manufacturing and other sectors, and at the same time create a vibrant and innovative environment in those contexts where these sectors develop. Thus, even the peopleʹs quality of life improves," the minister said.

He said the government would create a working group to draft the regulatory and fiscal organizational framework for the promotion of the creative economy;

Introduce a number of fiscal incentives for this sector, including:

• fiscal benefits for qualifying costs to make it easier for eligible Maltese authors to publish their literary works;

• tax credits to cover qualifying costs spent on computer animation, special effects, films and television programmes, as well as production services; and

• fiscal benefits for qualifying costs spent on interactive digital media products and qualifying costs spent on sound recording houses, including costs incurred to bring productions to our country.

The eligibility for fiscal incentives was also being widened to cover all those individuals undertaking their studies in a recognized tertiary education institution, whether locally or abroad.

To benefit they must not be receiving any other form of assistance for their studies from a government department or other entity or from the private sector;

Other measures will include an Award for Creativity and Innovation.

The Malta Film Commission will set up the required training courses for the production of films to incentivize the talents that we have and to build the required capacity to strengthen this industry in our country;

The minister said the potential for the production of Maltese films and for a required organisational and sustainable framework would be investigated in order to enhance it.

REDUCED TARIFF

He said the tariff for the holding licence for satellite communications for industrial purposes is being teduced, so that this sector is not hindered.

Scholarships for Arts Studies programmes will be awarded.

The Film Commission will also initiate the development process of a sound stage in order to strengthen the country’s infrastructure for the production of films.