THE future of Guernsey’s economy looks bright, according to members of the Policy Council.

The recent business trends survey, carried out by Island Analysis for the Chamber of Commerce and Young Business Group, revealed that confidence in business turnover and profitability projections for 2010 had improved substantially compared to the previous two years.

Of those businesses quizzed in the survey, 43% indicated that they had more confidence in business profitability projections for 2009 than at the same time last year for 2009.

Chief Minister Lyndon Trott, who was one of four ministers to sit on a panel at a recent Chamber seminar to discuss the survey’s findings, said that came as little surprise to him as he, too, was optimistic about the year ahead and how Guernsey had fared over the course of 2009 compared to other jurisdictions.

‘It appears that confidence is up and I believe that optimism is based on a realistic picture of where we are.’

Treasury minister Charles Parkinson (pictured), who was also on the panel, along with Housing minister Dave Jones and Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer, agreed that there were still challenges ahead, but was pleased with where the island was at present.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press.