Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed on the importance of the government taking key decisions on the interest of the people in today’s reality.
While being interviewed on ONE radio, Abela talked about the road to recovery, the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war and inflation while hinting at what the upcoming Budget will be aimed towards.
“Our aim always has been to create a budget from the people to the people. That is why we are still meeting the people wherever we can, it is not a stunt used for the election but a key tool in politics in order to listen to what ails the people and think on how we can help them,” Abela said.
Throughout the year Malta has been recovering from the pandemic while also facing challenges from the Ukraine-Russia war and now inflation. Abela said that although the government is subsidising a number of things at great cost to the government, the economic growth Malta is experiencing is phenomenal
“Throughout the past year we have worked collectively to achieve an 8.5% economic growth which is the highest in the EU. While investing in the economy we are able safeguard certain aspects of society.”
Abela pins the source of this growth due to the decisiveness of the government in key moments. “We took decisions when we had to without dragging our feet and our post pandemic recovery success is a testament to this.”
Abela then shifted focus on the low unemployment rate which Malta boasts. With less than 3% unemployment, Abela said that the government can now shift focus onto improving the quality of life and work for everyone.
“With the growth of our economy, we can invest in the people by subsidising certain key elements and in turn they will find themselves in a better position to re invest their earning back into the economy. This is the cycle of positivity we seek to achieve.”
This is not the only way which the government is aiding the economy. Abela announced that the cabinet has just approved a new scheme called ‘Start Up Visas’ which has the sole aim of attracting youths who want to start a business while doing it in Malta.
“We want to attract quality start up business who will invest in the Maltese economy. With these businesses, a new opportunity also arises for local businesses to collaborate hence creating better jobs, better quality of work and most importantly more investment in the country which could be used to help people.”
The upcoming Budget is going to be focused on helping people who can not bear the weight of today’s reality, Abela said. “We will never shift the burden of inflation, the war and the pandemic on those who can not bear it. Through various policies which will attract investment to Malta we will be in a position to help everyone across the board.”