STQARRIJA MILL-MINISTERU GHAS-SERVIZZI EKONOMICI

STQARRIJA MILL-MINISTERU GHAS-SERVIZZI EKONOMICI

Il-bierah (19^ta' April 2000), l-Ufficcju Centrali ta' l-Istatistika ippublika taghrif dwar il-Prodott Gross Domestiku ghas-sena 1999. Dawn ic-cifri juru li l-Prodott Gross Domestiku zdied bi Lm84.4 miljun fl-1999 fuq l-valur milhuq fis-sena ta' qabel. F'termini reali (jigifieri meta wiehed jikkonsidra ukoll iz-zieda fil-prezzijiet) dan ifisser li tul l-1999 l-Ekonomija Maltija espandiet b'4.6% kontra l-espansjoni ta' 3.4% irregistrata fl-1998.

L-istqarrija mahruga mill-Ufficcju Centrali ta' l-Istatistika tinkludi ukoll hafna aktar statistika dettaljata, li ghandha tiffacilita diskussjoni serja u oggettiva dwar l-istat prezenti ta' l-ekonomija Maltija. Sfortunatament izda, l-Oppozzizjoni tidher li hija hafna aktar interessata li tipprova tiehu xi vantagg politiku mis-suggett, anki jekk dan ifixkel id-diskussjoni mixtieqa.

L-Oppozizzjoni qed tipprova tohloq kaz fuq il-bazi li c-cifra dwar il-Prodott Gross Domestiku ippubblikati mill-Ufficcju Centali ta' l-Istatistika huma differenti mic-cifri ikkwotati mill-Bank Centrali. Izda dan ma huwa kaz xejn ghaliex din id-diskrepanza facli hafna li wiehed jispjega.

Kif stqarrew huma stess fir-rapport annwali taghhom, ic-cifri tal-Bank Centrali dwar il-Prodott Gross Domestiku ghas-sena 1999 huma biss stima, mibnija fuq taghrif li kien ikopri parti biss mis-sena u li gie estiz permezz ta' mudell ekonometriku. Min-naha l-ohra, ic-cifri ippublikati l-bierah mill-Ufficcju Centrali ta' l-Istatistika jirrapprezentaw l-informazzjoni shiha li tkopri is-sena kollha kemm hi.

Fil-verit'� ma tezisti l-ebda problema, la bic-cifri ippublikati mill-Ufficcju Centrali ta' l-Istatistika u l-anqas bil-previzjonijiet maghmula mill-Bank Centrali. Il-problema hija l-Oppozizzjoni, li ipprovat, f'kull opportunit'� li kellha, tpingi stampa kerha u pessimista ghall-ahhar dwar l-ekonomija Maltija fuq il-bazi ta' stima parzjali u minghajr ma stennew li tigi ippublikata l-istatistika shiha. Kien proprju dan il-punt li qajjem recentament fil-Parlament l-Onorevoli Josef Bonnici, li ikkritika bil-qawwi lill-Oppozizzjoni ghall-atteggjament taghha fejn riedet tohrog konkluzjonijiet dwar l-andament ta' l-ekonomija minkejja li kellha biss taghrif inkomplet. Illum l-Oppozizzjoni qed issib ruhha soggetta ghad-dikjarazzjonijiet li ghamlet hi l-istess. Ghaliex kif tista tibqa' issostni li l-ekonomija stagnata meta l-istatistika turi li l-Prodott Gross Domestiku zdied b'rata konsideralment iktar gholja fl-1999 meta mqabbla ma' l-1998?

It-taghrif ippublikat il-bierah mill-Ufficcju Centrali ta' l-Istatistika juri numru ta' setturi krucjali li qed jespandu u li permezz taghhom qed titkattar l-attivit'� ekonomika f'pajjizna. Is-settur tas-Servizzi Privati kiber b'9.0%, is-settur tat-Trasport u Kommunikazzjoni b'7.5% u s-settur tal-manifattura b'5.7%. Fil-fatt dan it-tkattir ekonomiku wassal biex fl-1999 inholqu iktar minn 1500 impieg addizzjonali fis-settur privat, meta fis-sena ta' qabel kienu inholqu biss daqs 750 impjieg addizzjonali.

Huwa essenzjali li ahna ngharfu u nifhmu l-isfidi li qed tiffaccja l-Ekonomija Maltija f'dawn iz-zminijiet ta' bidliet globali. Dan jirrikjedi dibattitu informat u serju u mhux stqarrijiet bi skopijiet ulterjuri hekk kif qed taghmel l-Oppozizzjoni.

ECONOMIC SERVICES MINISTRY STATEMENT

Yesterday (19/04/2000) the Central Office of Statistics published the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for 1999. These figures show that nominal GDP in 1999 was Lm84.4 million higher than the corresponding value in 1998. When translated into real terms, this amounts to a 4.6% increase in GDP during 1999 as against the 3.4% increase recorded in 1998.

The COS news release includes considerable additional, detailed statistical data that should engender a meaningful and objective discussion on the state of the Maltese economy. Unfortunately, however, the Opposition seems to be more interested in politicising the subject to suit its own aims, even if this risks debasing the ensuing debate.

The Opposition is trying to create an issue on the basis that the GDP data as published by the COS differ from figures quoted by the Central Bank. However, this reported discrepancy is very easily explained. As was stated very clearly in the Central Bank's Annual Report, its GDP projections were estimates derived from incomplete data and based upon projections using an econometric model. In contrast, the COS figures refer to actual data covering the whole period under review.

The problem does not lie with either the COS or the Central Bank but with the Opposition who have been systematically trying to paint a picture of gloom and doom on the basis of provisional estimates and without waiting for the full data to be published.

This was the specific point recently raised in Parliament by the Hon. Josef Bonnici, who chastised the Opposition for knowingly making categorical statements on the state of the Maltese economy on the basis of incomplete data and estimated figures.The Opposition now finds itself captive of its own biased pronouncements. For if, according to them, 1999 was marked by stagnation what must be said of 1998 when the GDP growth rate was much lower ?

The published 1999 data shows a number of growth sectors driving the Maltese economy forward. The Private Services sector expanded by 9.0%, the Transport and Communications sector by 7.5% and the Manufacturing Sector by 5.2%. This expansion was reflected in a net increase of over 1500 jobs in the private sector during 1999 when compared to 1998, when only half that number of jobs were created.

In conclusion, it is imperative that we do understand the challenges facing the Maltese economy at this time of change. What this requires is a lucid and informed debate on the subject and not the kind of politicised, almost melodramatic statements as have been made by the Opposition.