Ix-Xogħol Tal-Gvern Rikonoxxut Minn Standard & Poor’s

Il-pjan tal-Gvern Malti għas-settur tal-enerġija qed jipprogressa b’mod li jsaħħaħ il-qagħda finanzjarja ta’ pajjiżna. Fl-2013 l-ekonomija kibret aktar minn kull aspettativa.

Dawn huma wħud mill-konklużjonijiet ewlenin li tagħmel l-aġenzija ta’ kreditu internazzjonali Standard & Poor’s. Tistqarr li l-amministrazzjoni ġdida, bil-governanza effettiva tagħha, bdiet tirreġistra progress fil-ħidma tagħha fuq riformi fit-tul. Dawn il-prospetti tajbin għal Malta wasslu biex Standard & Poor’s iżżomm l-outlook stabbli lejn pajjiżna kif ukoll ir-rating ta’ BBB+/A-2.

Standard & Poor’s tiddikjara li Malta qed timxi ’l quddiem fil-pjan tal-enerġija u tgħid li din ir-riforma se tkompli tappoġġja t-tkabbir ekonomiku li diġà qed jitjieb u li qabeż kull aspettattiva inkluż ta’ Standard & Poor’s stess. Il-qalba għall-gass se tgħin biex l-ispiża għall-ġenerazzjoni tal-elettriku f’Malta tonqos saħansitra bin-nofs.

L-aġenzija ta’ kreditu internazzjonali għal darba oħra tfaħħar l-investiment li l-Gvern ġab miċ-Ċina għall-Enemalta. Standard & Poor’s tgħid li dan il-pass se jgħin biex jonqos it-telf finanzjarju tal-korporazzjoni, u konsegwentament, fuq il-Gvern.

Dan il-progress, tgħid Standard & Poor’s, huwa sinjal pożittiv li l-Gvern se jindirizza kwistjonijiet long-term bħal pensjonijiet u d-dħul ta’ aktar nisa fid-dinja tax-xogħol.

Huwa d-dejn akkumulat l-uniku fattur li żamm lil Standard & Poor’s lura milli saħansitra ttejjeb ir-rating ta’ pajjiżna. L-aġenzija ta’ kreditu internazzjonali tgħid li r-riżultat ikun aħjar jekk f’Malta jkompli għaddej it-titjieb kif inhu favur iktar tkabbir ekonomiku u konsegwentament tnaqqis fid-dejn.

L-analiżi ta’ Standard and Poor’s hija rikonoxximent ċar tax-xogħol tal-Gvern. Din l-amministrazzjoni se tkompli tiftaħ il-bibien beraħ għal tkabbir ekonomiku bla preċedent.

Il-Gvern se jibqa’ determinat li, bl-għaqal u bir-responsabbiltà, joħloq aktar ġid u jqassmu b’mod ġust fost il-poplu bieżel tagħna. Biex Malta tkun aktar b’saħħitha u aktar ġusta.

“Indications are that 2013 economic growth has exceeded our expectations” – Standard & Poor’s

Government’s Achievements Recognized By Standards & Poor’s

The Government’s plan for the energy sector is unfolding in a manner that is strengthening the country’s financial position, so much so that the economic growth registered during 2013 exceeded all expectations.

These are among the most prominent conclusions reached by international credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s. In a statement published on Friday 17th January 2014, the credit rating agency observed that the new administration, by means of effective governance, began registering concrete progress on its long-term reforms. These positive prospects for Malta led Standard & Poor’s to reaffirm a stable outlook for Malta, as well as its BBB+/A-2 rating.

Standard & Poor’s also affirmed that Malta is making good progress in its energy plan, and remarked that this reform will continue supporting economic growth, which is already improving and exceeding all expectations, including Standard & Poor’s own. The conversion to gas as an energy source will enable Government to lower the cost of the generation of electricity by as much as half.

The international credit rating agency further welcomed the Chinese investment which the Government secured for the state-owned enterprise Enemalta. Standard & Poor’s said that this investment will allow the Government to reduce the state-owned corporation’ losses, and consequently, the negative effect this has on Government finances.

This process, Standard & Poor’s remarked, is a positive sign that the Government will address long-term issues such as pensions, and greater female participation in the labour force.

It was the accumulation of debt that Standard & Poor’s reported as being the only factor which discouraged the credit rating agency from improving Malta’s credit rating. It further said that Malta’s assessment would be further improved if the Government proceeds with its agenda which prioritizes economic growth and, subsequently, reduction of the debt.

Standard & Poor’s analysis is a clear recognition of the Government’s efforts. This administration will keep working to pave the way to further economic growth which exceeds expectations.

The Government remains determined to, through responsible governance, keep creating wealth and ensuring that this wealth is distributed fairly among Malta’s hardworking population. So that Malta becomes stronger and fairer.