National Strategic Reference Framework

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MALTA – National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013 Draft Document for Consultation Chapter 3. An Analysis of Malta’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats The information emerging from the previous Chapters is supplemented with an analysis of the current socio-economic context through an examination of Malta’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). The SWOT analysis has been undertaken through a series of meetings held in September 2005 with relevant public and private sector stakeholders. The SWOT meetings were organised along the thematic areas of accessibility; economic development and competitiveness; employment, education and social inclusion; environment; and Gozo special needs. Meetings were open for all Line Ministries and public agencies, nongovernmental organizations, social partners and other stakeholders. In addition to these SWOT meetings, a dedicated e-mail address was created to receive feedback. In the first quarter of 2006, a number of public dialogues were held on the same thematic areas in various locations, including Gozo. 24 Malta’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are set out in Tables 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4. This SWOT analysis highlights a number of crucial realities that affect the strategic direction of Malta’s socio-economic development for the programming period 2007 – 2013. This feedback has been feeding the delineation of the strategic objectives of the NSRF process. - Politically stable, strong social fabric and safe country - Strategic location in Mediterranean - Favourable climate conditions - Good governance - Good industrial relations climate - Well-established tourism sector and financial services sector - A wealth of cultural heritage - Established manufacturing base with a good reputation of retaining FDI Table 3.1 – Strengths - Good airport infrastructure - Natural strategic seaports - Flexible, reliable, and adaptable workforce - Multi-lingual population - Good welfare framework - Active voluntary sector and non-profit organizations 24 Apart from the general public, relevant civil society partners and representatives of local government participated in these meetings.
MALTA – National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013 Draft Document for Consultation - Vulnerability as a small island state - Insularity and discontinuity of the territory - Double insularity for Gozo - High population density - Small internal market - Poor integrated land use and transport planning - Poor roads infrastructure - Limited internal (road) access links - Inadequate investment in seaport infrastructure Environmental sustainability - High dependency on non-renewable energy sources - Potential diversification in the main economic sectors (niche markets) - Increased trade integration opportunities - Growth through better branding of main economic sectors - Potential focus on higher value added economic activity - Potential for furthering intra and interindustry linkages - More strategic focus on Gozo as a region with distinct characteristics - Expansion of back-office operations and ICT services - Expansion of E-Services - Capitalising on untapped financial services potential - Expansion of trans-shipment and logistics Table 3.2 Weaknesses Table 3.3 Opportunities - Skills mismatches - Insufficient take-up of science-based studies - Inadequate continuous VET - Lack of flexible pathways between VET and non-VET streams - Low female participation rate - Lack of affordable child care and after school care services - Insufficient entrepreneurial culture - Poor branding of key economic sectors - Perceived narrow tourism offering - Lack of adequate support structures for micro-enterprises and SMEs - Level of spending in R&D - Potential increase in Research & Development activities - Potential for increased use of renewable energy sources - Improvement of infrastructure and services of general economic interest - Potential from the regeneration of urban areas, particularly those linked to historical areas/heritage sites - Potential from the valorization of cultural heritage assets - Active ageing - Life-long learning and further human resource development - Social inclusion and integration of different levels of society through ICT
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National Strategic Reference Framework

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