Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Thursday that the government’s priority is to continue to move towards full normality and relaxing Covid-19 restrictions, with more measures set to be relaxed in the coming days.

Abela was speaking at Castille in his first meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce since his re-appointment as Prime Minister.

Abela said that in the coming days, more Covid-19 measures will be relaxed, and, while still taking care of public health, the country will adopt a stance where everyone decides on how to care for themselves.

The Prime Minister said that last year, Malta recorded good economic growth, and that this year it should increase to pre-pandemic levels. He said the government must continue to help areas such as hospitality and expects good prospects for the coming summer.

In his remarks, Abela mentioned work done in the field of digitization, and said that these are changes that must take place in every sector, and that work on them will begin immediately.

He said the private sector should be a partner in the government in this regard. Abela said that what was seen as a burden, or a challenge should be seen as an economic opportunity.

On the war in Ukraine, Abela said that Malta is condemning the conflict on all fronts, whilst the government will curb as much as possible any impacts of the war for Maltese citizens.

Abela said that proposals from the PL electoral manifesto, such as the reduction of tax and less bureaucracy will be implemented, whilst the sector of good governance will continue to be strengthened, he said.

President of the Chamber of Commerce Marisa Xuereb congratulated the Prime Minister on his electoral success and said she was pleased with the people confirmed in Cabinet, so that the work started between the two sides could be continued.

She said there was a need to address political clientelism and called for clear political direction in the areas of environment and planning, as well as education.

“The lack of quality human resources, political ambivalence, and clientelism all together result in a lack of good governance that goes beyond the FATF,” Xuereb said.

Xuereb said that the government entities that compete directly with the private sector in the provision of services and public procurement still lacks transparency and accountability.

Xuereb said that the country’s reputation must be strengthened and maintained, speaking about how the country needs to become more credible, particularly on those issues that most concern the international community, being money laundering, arms and drug trafficking, treatment of foreign workers, the passport scheme, and the way the country relates to both Europe and third countries.

The Chamber is committed to continue to improve the country’s profile as well as help in the implementation of politics, Xuereb said. Xuereb added that the Chamber is satisfied with the clear and open communication between the office of the Prime Minister and several Ministers and the social partners.