Credit agency Standard & Poor’s notes that the new Government is progressing with a wide-ranging reform programme to tackle issues – some of which have been persisting for a number of years – such as the energy sector which is being addressed through a clear plan which has been long overdue.
The agency says that, despite all difficulties, the Maltese economy is strong and is giving results which outpace other Euro zone economies.
Standard and Poor’s clearly declares that Malta’s financial system is stable through a well-regulated banking sector which has a strong capital base and is making a profit.
However Standard and Poor’s also points out what needs to be done for the country to keep on moving forward. The credit agency mentions the need to put Government finances back on a sound and sustainable footing. It also refers to the need for the country to address Enemalta’s financial losses by successfully implementing the Government’s plan for the energy sector. Standard and Poor’s stresses on the importance of an increasing participation of women in the workforce. The new Government welcomes the fact that these recommendations are an integral part of its reform strategy and is actively addressing them.
Standard and Poor’s decision to confirm Malta’s credit rating is a positive result for the country. A result which should encourage us to address the challenges ahead while striving to sustain stability, incentivise investment and create more employment for the wellbeing of all.
L-Aġenzija Standard and Poor’s tagħti r-raġunijiet tagħha għad-deċiżjoni li ħadet
Tinnota li l-Gvern il-ġdid miexi sewwa bi programm wiesa’ ta’ riformi li qegħdin jindirizzaw problemi li, xi wħud minnhom, ilhom jinġemgħu s-snin. Fosthom dawk marbuta mas-settur tal-energija li qegħdin jiġu indirizzati bil-pjan ċar tal-Gvern għal dan il-qasam, liema pjan kien ilu jinħass il-bżonn tiegħu.
L-aġenzija tgħid li minkejja d-diffikultajiet kollha, l-ekonomija tagħna hija soda u qiegħda tagħti riżultati li jiżbqu dawk taz-zona tal-ewro.
Standard and Poor’s tgħid bl-aktar mod ċar li s-settur finanzjarju f’pajjiżna huwa stabbli. Din l-istabbiltà li ġejja minn settur bankarju regolat sewwa, li għandu bażi kapitali soda u li qiegħed jagħmel il-qligħ.
Iżda Standard and Poor’s tiġbed ukoll l-attenzjoni għal dak li pajjiżna għandu bżonn jagħmel sabiex jibqa’ miexi ‘l quddiem. Issemmi l-bżonn li l-finanzi tal-Gvern jerġgħu jitpoġġew fuq sisien sodi u sostenibbli. Issemmi l-bżonn li pajjiżna jindirizza t-telf tal-Enemalta billi l-Gvern iwettaq b’suċċess il-pjan tiegħu għall-enerġija. Tisħaq ukoll fuq il-ħtieġa li aktar nisa jidħlu u jibqgħu jipparteċipaw fid-dinja tax-xogħol. Il-Gvern il-ġdid b’sodisfazzjon jinnota li dawn huma parti integrali mill-istrateġija ta’ riforma tiegħu u qiegħed jindirizzahom b’mod attiv ħafna.
Il-konferma tal-credit rating ta’ pajjiżna minn Standard and Poor’s huwa riżultat pożittiv għal pajjiżna; riżultat li għandu jimlina b’kuraġġ sabiex, filwaqt li nindirizzaw l-isfidi li għandna quddiemna, inkomplu naħdmu sabiex inżommu l-istabbiltà f’pajjiżna, ninċentivaw l-investiment u nkomplu noħolqu x-xogħol u l-ġid għal poplu tagħna.
– Friday, 19th July, 2013