Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea spoke about quality from a government perspective and how policies adopted by the administration are aimed at improving the quality of life through improved standards and techniques.

Participation in European Union programmes has enabled the government to improve the quality of life of all Maltese and Gozitans by implementing a strategic reform process that focuses on enhancing national competitiveness.

The National Reform Programme (NRP) through which the country’s socio-economic development challenges are being addressed is already helping to upgrade the quality of services in numerous sectors, including those provided by enterprise and industry and tourism, he said.

The Malta Standards Authority (MSA) is constantly introducing and developing further the adoption of various standards to upgrade the quality of products and services. The MSA is responsible for quality infrastructure in Malta. Its competence in areas such as technical regulation, standardisation, and accreditation has helped to ensure that producers, distributors and service providers are delivering high quality services.

Nowadays, when consumers purchase goods, they are mainly concerned about the product’s quality, price, design, value and appeal. The Government’s main responsibility is to ensure that everyone is in a position to be able to make such choices.

In economic terms, membership of the EU has provided a more stable environment, more competition and possibilities for cooperation across Europe. This framework is probably one of the most outstanding benefits that Malta has reaped as a result of EU membership, he said.

The most fundamental factor that will ensure a better quality of life in the information age is education.

This is why the government is investing so much in the education sector. The younger generation is already showing signs of being more adventurous than their parents when it comes to technology related products and services.

They are also prepared to interact with other cultures rather than accept stereotypes. It was essential, Mr Galea said, that contemporary educational systems offer students the necessary skills that will allow them to function and compete in the information age.