Investment and incentives for SMEs boost the economy and increase employment
On the occasion of Workers’ Day, officials from the Green Party visited Magri Cycles in Mosta. Through this visit Alternattiva Demokratika highlighted the contribution to job creation of small companies, companies which are linked to the local community. In particular AD highlighted how investment in infrastructure and incentives for the use of bicyles and electric bicycles (pedelecs), as well as creating jobs, enhances the quality of life in our communities.
AD Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola said: “A sustainable Economy and decent work depend on SMEs. Today we want to highlight on how policies to protect the health of people, improving of air quality and make our roads safer can create jobs and support SMEs in our country. This is part of AD’s Zero Carbon Malta 2050 proposal, namely weaning the country off polluting fossil fuels, such as diesel and petrol. The more fossil fuels we use the more money flows out of the country’s economy. The more money remaining in the local economy, the more jobs are created and more will be available for investment in the people’s quality of life.”
“Among the proposals are those on the retrofitting of cars to cleaner fuels and the move to electric vehicles, investment in alternative energy and batteries for various transport systems and systems for the efficient use of energy, among others. Zero Carbon Malta 2050 means an investment in local and small businesses, through grants and low-interest loans to incentivize areas of environmental and social priority. Investment in local businesses means that the wealth created remains in the local economy rather than leave the country and going to multinationals, which are not interested in the local community. ”
AD spokesperson Ralph Cassar said: “We hear lots of talk about underwater tunnels and tens of billions on underground mass transport systems, as well as millions on roads designed for cars only. We call for a national network of bicycle and electric bicycle highways along the major traffic arteries. We call for incentives to encourage people to use bicycles and electric bicycles for commuting. It makes no sense to have administrative barriers such as the need of registration of electric bicycles – their use should be facilitated rather than hindered. The investment in infrastructure for bicycles and electric bicycles and fiscal incentives to boost commuting by bike cost much less than flyovers, underwater tunnels and mega projects. Projects and incentives encouraging the uptake of bicycles and pedelecs can be implemented relatively quickly. According to figures from London the introduction of ‘bicycle superhighways’ increased use of bicycles by 60% (1). Other figures show a decrease of 35% of travel time for vehicles along main roads were separate and safe bicycle lanes were introduced (2). For each person who uses the bike you have less traffic and less pollution.”
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Investiment u inċentivi lill-SMEs itejbu ‘l-ekonomija u jżidu x-xogħol
Fl-okkażjoni ta’ Jum il-Ħaddiem, uffiċċjali minn Alternattiva Demokratika għamlu żjara fl-istabbiliment ta’ Magri Cycles fil-Mosta.
Permezz ta’ din iż-żjara Alternattiva Demokratika trid tenfasizza l-kontribut lejn il-ħolqien tax-xogħol ta’ kumpaniji żgħar, li huma marbutin mat-tessut soċjali u mal-komunita’ lokali, kif ukoll il-potenzjal ta’ ħolqien ta’ xogħol u anke kwalita’ ta’ ħajja aħjar jekk ikun hemm inċentivi u investiment minn naħa tal-pajjiż f’infrastruttura għal mezzi ta’ trasport nadif u alternattiv bħar-roti u roti elettriċi.
Ic-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, l-Prof. Arnold Cassola qal:”Ekonomija sostenibbli u xogħol dinjituż jiddependu minn kumpaniji żgħar. Illum qed nitfgħu dawl fuq kif policies li jħarsu s-saħħa tan-nies, itejbu l-kwalita’ tal-arja u jagħmlu t-toroq tagħna aktar siguri jistgħu joħolqu x-xogħol u jsostnu l-SMEs f’pajjiżna. Bħala Alternattiva Demokratika nemmnu li l proposta tagħna ta’ Malta Zero Carbon sas-sena 2050 – iġifieri li ninqatgħu minn użu ta’ fuels li jniġġsu bħad-diesel u l-petrol, u li jfissru wkoll flejjes kbar li joħorġu ‘l barra mill-ekonomija ta’ pajjiżna, tfisser aktar flus fl-ekonomija, aktar investiment fil-kwalita’ tal-ħajja tan-nies u aktar xogħol.”
“Fost il-proposti hemm dawk dwar industriji ta’ retrofitting ta’ karozzi u ta’ vetturi elettriċi, ta’ enerġija alternattiva u nadifa, ta’ batteriji għal diversi sistemi ta’ trasport, ta’ użu effiċjenti tal-enerġija, fost oħrajn. Malta Zero Carbon 2050 tfisser investiment f’negozji lokali u żgħar, permezz ta’ grants u self b’interessi baxxi per eżempju biex jiġu inċentivati oqsma li huma ta’ prijorita’ ambjentalment u soċjalment. L-investiment f’negozji lokali iffisser li l-ġid li jinħoloq jibqa’ fl-ekonomija lokali minflok joħroġ mill-pajjiż billi jmur lejn multinazzjonali, li ftit jinteressahom mill-komunita’ lokali.”
Il-kelliem ta’ AD Ralph Cassar qal:”Isir diskors dwar proġetti bħal mini taħt il-baħar u għexieren ta’ biljuni fuq sistemi massiva ta’ trasport taħt l-art, u jintefqu miljuni kbar f’toroq magħmulin għal karozzi biss. Aħna biex issir sistemi nazzjonali ta’ toroq għar-roti u roti elettriċi tul il-bypasses kollha. Qed insejħu biex ikun hemm inċentivi biex in-nies jitħajru jużaw ir-roti u roti elettriċi għall-commuting. Ma tagħmilx sens li jkun hemm ostakli bħal bżonn ta’ reġistrazzjoni ta’ roti elettriċi – l-użu tagħhom għandu jkun faċilitat u mhux imxekkel. L-investiment f’infrastruttura għar-roti u roti elettriċi u inċentivi fiskali biex jingħataw spinta jqum ħafna inqas minn infieq f’flyovers u mini u dawn il-proġetti u inċentivi jistgħu jsiru relattivament malajr. Skont figuri minn Londra l-introduzzjoni ta’ ‘bicycle superhighways’ żied l-użu tar-roti b’60% (1). Figuri oħra juru tnaqqis ta’ 35% fil-ħin tal-vjaġġ tal-vetturi meta tul toroq prinċipali ġew introdotti lanes separati u siguri għar-roti (2). Għal kull persuna li tuża r-rota ikollok anqas traffiku, u anqas tniġġis.”
