Last week in Davos, Switzerland business, political, academic and other world leaders attended the World Economic Forum. The theme for this year focused on “The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business”. This was no ordinary Forum, 40 heads of Government were present. The Forum was attended by 2,500 participants from 100 countries with the participation of 1,500 senior officials from the 1,000 of the world’s top corporations and global enterprises. Other key stakeholders were there too. The message from Pope Francis implored participants to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it.
During the four-day meeting those attending attempted to map the way forward by taking sustainable economic steps to transform the world through improving economic growth. No small task. Malta’s top brass was not present for this Forum. It seems that our domestic challenges, or rather bickering, is taking most of our Government’s time and thus is left with no time to attend an important world economic event.
The World Economic Forum, an independent international organisation for public-private cooperation is committed to improving the economic performance of the world and is not tied to any political, partisan or national interests. It is a strong platform for world leaders to come together and analyse various economic, social, educational, health, environmental and other important issues to improve the well-being of peoples.
This gathering of world leaders came seven years after the global financial crisis which is considered by many the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The 2007 financial and economic crisis resulted in the total collapse of large financial institutions, the bailout of banks by national governments, and downturns in stock markets around the world which led to millions of workers to lose their place of work while others suffered from austerity measures.
At that time, economies worldwide slowed as credit tightened and international trade declined. Many causes for the financial crisis have been suggested, and varying emphasis pushed forward. Notwithstanding these suggestions the international community unfortunately remains crisis driven instead of forward looking and pushing strategic economic transformation to address the many ills and inequalities that prevail. The World Economic Forum gives world leaders the opportunity to unmask new strategies aimed at improving economic performance and combat injustices.
While world-wide leaders discuss issues which without doubt affect us at all levels, locally we remain indifferent. Our insularity is leading us into isolation. Our obstinate Government fuelled a partisan and parochial discussion about the Individual Investors Programme which has earned Malta world-wide negative publicity and so far a strong vote against the sale of citizenship from the Members of European Union Parliament. Malta continues to be singled out on the world platform for the wrong reasons.
A small island like ours cannot and should avoid taking international organisations to task unless an issue is so monumental that it so merits. Not too many such issues come to mind! It would be wiser if the present administration discovers the best ways to push, where to pull and when to stop. Learning to attract the attention of the international community for the right reasons will give us wind in our sails.
It is sad that we continue to charge at each other on issues which many a time are superficial and of no importance, and we fail to understand that we are living in a fast-moving, highly interconnected world wherein our existing systems and structures are no longer sufficient. Without warning, problems can arise. One the other hand, new opportunities emerge which Government must be quick to harness if we are not to be left behind.
If Malta fails to appreciate and embrace the new international challenges and remains hibernating within our boundaries, we risk going back to a much less felicitous time in our history. By now many have, publicly or privately, recognised the fact that certain leadership styles have led Malta to be isolated from the international community and as a result it became an impoverished country in many ways. A lesson which I thought our politicians have learnt. Persuasion and the art of conducting healthy and productive international relations should be the main instruments to attract foreign direct investment to our shores. No amount of arm twisting will help Malta achieve success and hold high and with esteem the reputation which is required in the international circles which will make the difference for us all. The choice of words which is presently being used by our Prime Minister is certainly not the right approach, and while this may well be received by PL loyal supporters, threatening the international community publicly will get us the cold shoulder reaction and bring us no favours.
The “push-backs”, “smell the coffee” and the recent “noted but the sale of citizenship scheme would be retained” by our Premier lacks diplomatic lustre and the three statements needed polishing badly.
While world leaders were meetings in Davos our Government was busy shielding Dr Justyne Caruana for taking a trip from Gozo to Malta to catch her flight to Marseille on an old AFM plastic helicopter.
Concurrently the National Statistics Office published higher unemployment rates for December 2013 reaching 7,400, an increase of 600 unemployed workers when compared with the same month of the previous year. Yet those who should take note remain unconcerned, defending the indefensible.
GejtuVella
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