The Opposition today welcomed the 8.9% increase in industrial production registered in May. This increase in production during May this year compared to the same month last year has to be taken within the context of an 11.3% decrease in industrial production during May 2014. In other words, the increase registered in May 2015 partly makes up for the drop in industrial production suffered during May 2014.

As evidenced in the table below, industrial production in Malta registered drops in fifteen of the twenty months between October 2013 and May 2015.

There are signs that the manufacturing industry in 2015 is clawing back some of the decrease in production experienced during 2013 and 2014. The Opposition hopes that this positive trend continues in the interest of the thousands of people whose livelihood depends on Malta's manufacturing industry.

The Opposition calls on government to use its resources wisely to help strengthen our country's economic competitiveness rather than spending tax money on fulfilling electoral promises that add little or no value to the country's economy.