THE Treasury minister has welcomed the good feeling coming out of the business sector from this year’s Institute of Directors conference. According to a number of finance sector bosses, including panel witness Paul Meader, the managing director of Dawnay Day Milroy, business has never been as buoyant as it is in Guernsey today.

Deputy Lyndon Trott said that confidence and strong economic performance were promising signs for the introduction of the zero-10 tax system next year.

‘I’m glad to hear that the finance industry believes it can fill the black hole with a bit of help from government,’ said Deputy Trott.

‘We believe that our economy is performing strongly and the shift in our finances away from corporate taxes is exactly what we would have hoped.

‘The key indicator is employees’ tax contributions, which have grown 6% in the last year even after taking inflation into account: 6% real-terms growth is very positive.

‘We are saying to islanders, ﾓDon’t worry, you’re not going to have a horrible new yearﾔ.’

Concern was raised at the event that the finance industry often got a bad press.

‘It is a fundamental building block of our success and as a States we are determined to work with the sector to get the best result for the island,’ said Deputy Trott.

‘Yesterday we were urged to work together and we are doing so – our briefings for the business community in readiness for zero-10 have proved so popular we are having to organise more.’