Finance Minister Edward Scicluna has revealed that the improvement of the quality of life, with a particular focus on infrastructure, education, and health care, will be central to the upcoming budget.

Speaking at a consultation meeting with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) in Valletta over the pre-budget document, which contains 130 proposals; Scicluna said that discussions were based on three levels, bilateral meetings between ministers, meetings with civil society, and meeting with MCESD.

The minister said that there was a lot of common ground between MCESD and the government.

Parliamentary Secretary Aaron Farrugia also highlight the importance between social partners, who defined MCESD as "prosperity with a purpose"and a "bridge to the future".

The meeting between MCESD and the Minister took place behind closed doors.

Infrastructure and Public Transport

The 700 million investment into the roads around the island was a key proposal in the Labour Party's successful election campaign, and the pre-budget documents revealed that the government aims to establish a new agency whose mandate is to plan and manage the building and maintenance of the road network.

This will be supported by new public-private financial instruments and investments.

The tunnel project between Malta and Gozo is also highlighted as a major project in the document.

"A number of technical and scientific studies have now been completed...geological tests known as Investigative Coring are being conducted on the seabed between Malta and Gozo."

There will also be further investment in a greener transport system through incentives to encourage people to use other forms of transport.

Students, children, pensioners, and people with disability will be able to use public transport free of charge; while electric and auto-gas vehicles will be exempt from a registration tax.

Students from all schools (government, church, and independent) will also benefit from free supervised school transport.

Economy

The document places particular focus on the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Maltese economy, and said that it will widen the bracket of eligibility for incentives while also maintain access to finance and assistance to start-ups.

The Government will also initiate a number of projects to cater the demands for space by SMEs.

Brexit, the document says, will also create a number of opportunities and the government would target companies looking to leave the UK to find an alternative base in Europe. This will also lead to fine tuning of Identity Malta's operations.

A taskforce will also be created to push for further simplification and less bureaucracy at a rate of 25% to 35%.

Financial Services Sector

The setting up of the Malta Development Bank is high on the agenda in this sector, which the document says will encourage greater competition and efficiency. It would also lead to less systematic risk and contribute to financial stability.

The Malta Stock Exchange will be implementing a strategy to develop liquid, efficient and a fair securities market.

Tourism

The document says that the next three years will focus on sustainable tourism which will be achieved through an airline route development strategy which will create year-round connectivity while also tapping new markets.

Air Malta, it says, is pivotal to achieving these objectives.

There will also be a proper up keep of the general infrastructure in tourism zones.

Water and Energy

The government will continue to make improvements in water infrastructures and investment to upgrade reverse osmosis plants and develop a new desalination plant in Gozo.

A national water conservation will be launched, while new and innovative monitoring technologies will be installed in aquifer systems.

With regards to energy, the government will continue working on the gas pipeline and will pursue its decarbonisation strategy.

Healthcare

Investment will see the introduction of new medicines, primary care, IVF, new specialised hospitals and explore further opportunities between the Government and the Private Sector.

The parking problem at Mater Dei is due to be addressed with the building of a five-storey car park.

Psychiatric patients will move to Mater Dei to allow investment to Mount Carmel Hospital.

Poverty, Social Solidarity, and Social Inclusion

The government appears to be intent on strengthening the sustainability of social benefits namely pensions, while also continuing its drive to further reduce the risk of poverty.

The disability sector was a focal point of the previous legislature and the document indicates that the government will continue to make this sector a priority by opening three new homes for the disabled.

There are also commitments to build new housing units while also regenerate existing one and purchasing properties from the private sector to lease the out to families waiting for social accommodation.

Gozo

Beyond the creation of the tunnel, the document calls for greater digital connectivity between Malta and Gozo, while also exploring new niche markets for the island.

Environment

The document refers to the constitutional amendment which will enshrine the environment in the constitution while also the launch of a consultation exercise for 24 sites to be declared public domain.

The agricultural sector will also be developed.