The Nationalist Party warned this evening that problems in the manufacturing sector were becoming more pronounced, as Eurostat figures for September showed Malta as the worst performing EU country in industrial production.

According to the EU statistical agency, industrial production in Malta dropped by 7.4%, which was twice the deterioration of the second and third worst performing countries.

In contrast, the EU and eurozone average improved.

PN deputy leader Mario de Marco said this meant that Malta’s problems could not be attributed to the international situation.

This, he said, was the second consecutive month that Malta had placed at the bottom of the scoreboard, a signal that problems were structural and not temporary.

It was worrying therefore, that the Labour governemnt was not showing any concern.

He hoped that the Budget would feature incentives to assist the manufacturing sector and thus safeguard jobs.