Il-Ministru John Attard Montalto f'tahdidiet fl-Ingilterra

Il-Ministru ghall-Affarijiet Ekonomici u Industrija Dr. John Attard Montalto bhalissa jinsab Londra ghal tahdidiet wara stedina tal-Gvern Ingliz.

Il-Ministru Attard Montalto dalghodu ltaqa' ma' ufficjali tad-Dipartiment tal-Kummerc u Industrija Ingliz. Dan id-Dipartiment ghandu x-xoghol li jghin l-imprizi jikkompetu b'success kemm lokalment, kif ukoll barra mill-pajjiz. Fost il-kompetenzi li jaqghu taht dan id-Dipartiment hemm il-promozzjoni ta' l-esportazzjoni, it-tfassil ta' policies dwar il-kummerc, ix-xjenza u t-teknologija, il-protezzjoni tal-konsumatur, ir-relazzjonijiet industrijali u s-sostenn ta' l-imprizi zghar. Fil-laqgha tieghu mas-Sur Keith Masson u mas-Sur John Thompson, diretturi f'dan id-Dipartiment, Dr. Attard Montalto tkellem dwar l-incentivi li z-zewg pajjizi joffru ghat-tkattir ta' l-imprizi zghar. Huma tkellmu wkoll dwar ir-rwol ta' l-industrija tal-manifattura fl-ekonomija ta' Malta u kif din tista' tissahhah aktar.

Wara nofsinhar il-Ministru kellu laqgha fid-Dipartiment tas-Sigurtà Socjali tal-Gvern Ingliz. Fost affarijiet ohra gew diskussi programmi ta' tahrig tekniku ghall-haddiema fil-manifattura.

Dr. Attard Montalto ltaqa' wkoll ma' Sir Colin Marshall, President tal-Konfederazzjoni ta' l-Industriji tar-Renju Unit. Huma ddiskutew l-incentivi ghall-investiment f'pajjizna, u d-diversi fatturi li industrijalisti jqisu meta jinvestu barra minn pajjizhom. Il- Konfederazzjoni ta' l-Industriji tar-Renju Unit ghandha shubija ta' madwar 250,000 kumpanija li bejniethom jimpjegaw aktar minn nofs il-haddiema fil-Renju Unit. Din il-Konfederazzjoni tirraprezenta lill-industrija fuq livell internazzjonali u tinkoraggixxi r-relazzjonijiet bejn ir-Renju Unit u pajjizi ohra.

Iz-zjara tal-Ministru ghall-Affarijiet Ekonomici u Industrija tkompli ghada f'Birmingham.

Minister John Attard Montalto in UK talks

Minister for Economic Affairs and Industry Dr. John Attard Montalto is in London for discussions following a formal invitation from the British Government.

Minister Attard Montalto this morning met officers of the Department of Trade and Commerce. This Department aims to help businesses to compete successfully at home and throughout the world. It has a wide range of responsibilities including trade policy, export promotion, science and technology, consumer protection, industrial relations and support for small firms. During his meetings with Mr. Keith Masson and Mr. John Thompson, Directors at the Department, Dr. Attard Montalto discussed the various incentives offered by both countries for the development of small businesses. The role of manufacturing industry in Malta's economy, and how this can be strengthened, was also discussed.

In the afternoon the Minister visited the Department of Social Security where, amongst other things, technical training programmes were discussed.

Dr. Attard Montalto also met Sir Colin Marshall, President of the Confederation of British Industry. Subject of the discussion included the investment incentives offered by Malta and the various factors industrialists weigh when investing abroad. The Confederation of British Industry counts some 250,000 member companies which together employ over half the United Kingdom workforce. The Confederation also acts internationally as the prime representative of British industry, encouraging business relations between the United Kingdom and overseas countries.

Minister Attard Montalto's UK meetings resume tomorrow in Birmingham.