There exist powerful factors which are driving globalization such as falling trade barriers; fast-paced technological advances; declining communications and transport costs; international migration; and highly mobile investment. Firms are facing many challenges to improve their value chain. At this stage one can comment that adding “Value “is the ability to meet or exceed the needs of customers¸ and do so efficiently. Firms have to deliver value to their customers by way of services or products and countries have to deliver value as business locations. As a tool to promote competitiveness TuneMalta has designed a number of initiatives which we hope will succeed to improve the chances of its members.

Close and active partnership
A coherent competitiveness strategy¸ tailor-made to national circumstances¸has a major influence on the creation of business competitiveness. A close and active business-government partnership is the linchpin of a well-managed competitiveness strategy. Traditionally¸ business focuses on increasing profits¸ while government formulates and implements strategy.

Accessing new resources and markets while mitigating the risks of intensive competition calls for a new kind of relationship between business and government. In this context¸ promoters of TuneMalta wish to play a leading but not a dominant role in managing competitiveness strategy.

In order to meet the objectives of the renewed Lisbon strategy¸ and thus stimulate growth and employment in Europe¸ a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme CIP has been adopted for the period 2007-2013. The programme supports measures to strengthen competitiveness and innovation capacity in the European Union. In this light TuneMalta encourages the use of superior information technologies¸ better use of media facilities and exchange of information on Constructive Strategies.

 

Goals and Objectives
Preferred partners can increase their international competitiveness by:

• Rationalisation output to get rid of high cost plants
• Relocating to places where labour costs are lower
• Process and product innovation
• Incorporating the latest ICT technology
• Sourcing competitive services/supplies from abroad (as appropriate )
• Seeking out new market opportunities via conferences¸ newsletters etc
• Improving relationships with suppliers and customers
• Investing in higher intellectual property value to improve deliverables.

What is competitiveness?

The term “competitiveness” is usually equated with macroeconomic issues (such as changes in exchange rates or wages) or microeconomic issues (such as an absence of entrepreneurship and excessive bureaucratic regulations on business).To respond effectively to the demanding global environment¸ firms need to develop a range of export capabilities in the areas of technology¸ marketing¸ management¸ human resources and finance¸ and continuously upgrade them over time. However¸ building business competitiveness – particularly for export markets – also has to involve both governments and trade support institutions in a major way.

As can be explained later TuneMalta has been designed to assist its preferred partners to maximize their success in business by the use of innovative techniques. Innovation in applying information and communications technologies (ICTs) to trade – or puttin