Maltese Conference To Focus On Country's Future Competitiveness
by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London
07 November 2003

November 18 sees the staging of a conference on Malta’s international competitiveness which will also coincide with the launch of a foundation intended to lobby government to ensure competitiveness is placed at the forefront of the nation’s economic agenda.

The conference is being hosted by Economic and Management Consultancy Services (EMCS) and the speakers will come from a range of domestic and international firms, notably Joe Grioli, managing director of Vodafone Malta and Chris Hotersall, CEO of HSBC Malta.

"Competitiveness must be constantly at the top of the national agenda if Malta and the Maltese are to maintain and improve their standard of living”, EMCS chairman John C. Grech comments, according to the Times of Malta. "Not being competitive will cost Malta the many opportunities for business and economic growth which will come with EU membership," he warns.

The conference follows Malta’s inclusion into the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness index of 102 nations in which the island was positioned in 19th place in the Growth Competitiveness Index and 42nd in the Business Competitiveness Index. However, the result, whilst encouraging, leaves much work to be done in the view of Adrian Said, a consultant at EMCS.

"The results and analysis carried out by the World Economic Forum clearly show that Maltese companies lag behind most of their European counterparts,” observes Mr Said. “This therefore means that the government should put more emphasis on building the proper environment for a change in culture and attitude in the civil service as well as in the private sector, and companies must identify and foster their core competencies to build a drive towards building superior products and services that generate a competitive advantage," Mr Said informed the Times.

The conference will coincide with the launch of ‘Competitive Malta: Foundation for National Competitiveness’ which will act as a discussion forum for bosses across a wide range of business sectors within Malta.

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