A PN government will address issues related to the import-export sector to specifically address the high cost of living burdens on families and businesses, PN chief spokesperson Peter Agius said on Wednesday.

The PN is proposing a national fund of €40 million which, PN candidate Jason Azzopardi said, will help ease excessive importation and exportation costs. Malta has the least level of competitiveness among all members of the European Union, as the costs remain high, he said.

The fund, which was welcomed by several social partners such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of SMEs, will offset added expenses that Maltese industries have had to pay each year, Azzopardi said. He added that while the price of simply carrying the goods in a container makes up 20% of the importation or exportation costs for the Maltese, in comparison, Belgians pay 2% and Italians pay 5% of that cost.

Azzopardi reiterated the proposal of investing in an international intermodal hub which connects modes of transportation such that of air and sea. The investment of physical and virtual infrastructures which connects air and seaports was also proposed, as well as at least three sites for free trade zones must be identified, Azzopardi said.

Accessibility will be strengthened for the transportation of goods between Malta and Gozo, and costs involved in the transportation of these goods will be reduced, he said. He added that storage spaces will be made available for industry entrepreneurs and local SMEs.

PN candidate Noel Muscat said that customs industry will be strengthened as well as modernized to eliminate certain bureaucracies. The PN will incentivize investments in digital platforms which use Artificial Intelligence. The online shopping sector will also be strengthened by reducing transport costs and creating distribution centres, said Muscat.

Methods of transport which do not pollute will be also be incentivised, Muscat said.