Back in October 2007 I chaired a workshop within the General Council of the Nationalist Party that critically analysed the role of services in our economy. It was one of the workshops that were to sow the seeds of Vision 2015.
That workshop caused me to consider what Malta would actually look like in eight years’ time, but during that General Council, there was the Prime Minister explaining exactly what he believed Malta should look like in 2015, and what we should have striven to attain by that important juncture in our
history.
By 2015, we would have worked towards achieving excellence in seven fundamental sectors: ICT, financial services, tourism, manufacturing, health, education and turning Gozo into a beacon of sustainability.
In my opinion, the notion of “vision” has been the most attractive facet of our leaders over the years. Our leaders have inspired confidence by being forward looking and planning for the future. They have set goals, and motivated the public to reach out for those goals.
George Borg Olivier saw our country’s potential in becoming a truly independent state in the post-war period.
Eddie Fenech Adami mapped our country’s route towards European Union membership, which has given our country a stronger voice and a stake in the leadership of Europe.
And Lawrence Gonzi has already seen our country through the adoption of the euro, which provided much-needed stability during the worst ever international economic and financial crisis.
Vision 2015 is now ‘work in progress’, and the government’s target date is all but five years away.
Last Tuesday’s public forum on this plan was not only timely, it also provided ample proof that Dr Gonzi’s direction for Malta has not faltered. A year ago, as he sought to steer our country out of the same recession that countries the world over were facing, he quietly studied means of retaining our direction.
That’s where Angelou Economics, a Texas-based economic consultancy firm specialising in economic development and the Vision 2015 & Beyond document, come in.
It is also based on our only resource – the human element. Over the years, through its hard work, flexibility and determination, it has transformed our country for the better. We have always displayed an innate sense of entrepreneurial flair, coupled with a sense of creativity that has allowed us to transform threats into opportunities. However, Vision 2015 has already been embraced by both policy-makers and market forces. In November’s budget, the government announced key measures for investment in our educational system, incentives to spur Malta’s fledgling creative industry and support measures to spark research and innovation.
Increasing scholarships, doubling funding in key areas and introducing innovative tax credits have all been weapons in the arsenal that will ultimately lead us on our roadmap to 2015.
And results have already begun to emerge. Financial services have undoubtedly become deep-rooted contributors to our economy. In 2009, the financial services sector grew by over 20 per cent while all other sectors bore the brunt of the recession.
Information and communication technology is also on course, as SmartCity prepares to begin opening its doors later this year. Malta’s aviation sector is fast expanding, with SR Technics setting up a base here in Malta and Medavia also expanding its operations. Other high value added manufacturing firms – through the ongoing support of Malta Enterprise – are also in the process of expanding here in Malta.
These are signs not only of our strong fundamentals as a country and as an economy but also, and more importantly, they confirm our potential for the future.
This vision clearly states where we can arrive. Let us together make it happen.
Franco Debono is a PN MP
www.francodebono.info
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