Over the past week, the Prime Minister has referred to the implementation of Vision 2015 as an example of works in progress. One does not simply talk about targets to reach by 2015 without having specific action plans that have now been ongoing for a number of years and that can be gauged through objective measurement.

The government has gone further. Angelou Economics, an American firm based in Austin, Texas, has been engaged to examine how far the government has managed to begin implementing Vision 2015 and what needs to be done at this stage as well as in the future to maximise on the challenges and opportunities that are facing us.

Listening daily to news from around the world provides us with a clear analysis that all is still not well in many countries. We have seen demonstrations in Greece over the austerity measures that need to be implemented to overcome the serious crisis. Workers were over the past days demonstrating in France over the reform of the pension system and other measures.

Great Britain has been hit by one crisis after another – ranging from the collapse of various banks and other financial institutions to the loss in value for the pound; ranging from unemployment to the political scene which in turn leads to loss of faith in those institutions that need to see the country move ahead. Other countries including Spain, Portugal and Italy are experiencing their own difficulties.

It is not as though Malta can sail through such turbulent waters without the persons on board the national ship of State feeling the impact of the storm out there. Yet we have not only managed to sail through but can also look forward to an exciting period of recovery. Equally, we cannot assume that the storm is over and forecasts that recession could hit back at countries that have already suffered more than enough in a double dip scenario cannot unfortunately be ignored.

In such circumstances it takes courage not only to sail through, but to also identify the harbours towards which we must keep moving. This is where Vision 2015 provides us a unique navigational tool – providing direction in no uncertain terms.

The report presented to the government last week points out that Malta is on course to be among the very best centres of excellence in the areas that it has chosen for itself in order to achieve Vision 2015.

Areas of excellence include education, the financial services, information technology, the pharmaceutical industry, the health sector and transport services.

I am particularly pleased to note that the American firm is pointing out that the creative industries need to become a focal point of Vision 2015.

When I had asked Theatre Projects to submit a report about making the best possible use of the Opera House ruins site and other areas for the arts, they had already pointed out that it has been well established in the UK that there is a threefold return for every pound invested in the arts. That does not mean that visual and performing arts can ever achieve the standards that we deserve without assistance from the government. What it does mean, however, is that there is an economic return on such investment which is not unlike making a return on spending money to bring in more tourists to the country.

The creative industries include the new media, digital art forms, artisan crafts, the film industry and marketing. Angelou Economics have ranked Malta as placing second only after Denmark in the area.

I know that there is more that can be done in this field. It is a question of reading new trends well, positioning ourselves for the future and having faith in our artistes who already contribute so much to our nation’s wellbeing and lifestyle.

Vision 2015 will be more focused for taking on board such fine tuning recommendations, for receiving the appropriate feedback from the people through a process of consultation that will be taking place and for having the courage not only to keep looking ahead but also to accelerate all works in progress.

Francis Zammit Dimech is a Nationalist MP