The findings of the recently announced Industry Trends Survey (ITS) are not as upbeat as those in the preceding edition, according to the Federation of Industry, which carried out the survey.
The survey also focused on the level of utilisation of the services provided by Malta Export Credit Insurance Co Ltd (MECI) to identify the reasons brought forward by those who do not use the services provided. Only 6% of the mainly export-oriented firms and 20% of the mainly local-oriented ones have ever used the services offered by MECI.
Most of the firms who do not use the service just do not need it. However, a few do not do so because they find the service too expensive or because MECI does not extend a cover to those countries where they export.
The last question posed by the FOI asked respondents whether they would be interested in factoring if such a service were to be offered in Malta. Forty six percent of the respondents answered in the affirmative.
