Linking Enterprise is a new service the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is offering its members. This initiative will consist of company visits, giving you the unique opportunity to learn from your peers how success has been achieved.
Why participate in Linking Enterprise?
- Benchmark your performance and learn new ways to enhance their business operations
- Link between theory and practical application
- Sharing of experiences, insights and feedback
- Technology transfer through best practices
- Discuss common challenges and opportunities
- Look into different processes, technologies and solutions
- Debate specific topics with the host company and other participants, to increase your knowledge and gain practical solutions to specific problems
Places are limited to 20 delegates per visit.
For further details of forthcoming visits please contact: Andrè Fenech on 22032 312 or andre.fenech@maltachamber.org.mt or Jeanelle Brincat on 22032 325 or jeanelle.brincat@maltachamber.org.mt
Linking Enterprise at Toly Products Ltd
Malta Chamber held its fourth successful Linking Enterprise event, hosted by Toly Products Limited and the Manufacturers and Other Industries Economic Group. Read more..
Linking Enterprise Visit at the Faculty of Engineering
The Manufacturers and Other Industries Economic Group (MEG) in collaboration with the University of Malta organised a Linking Enterprise visit at the Faculty of Engineering on 19th April 2012. The Malta Chamber delegation, led by the Chairman of the MEG, Mr Matthias Fauser included Vice President Mr. William Wait and Director General Ing. Ray Muscat, as well as representatives from some of the major manufacturing plants on the Island. The main purpose of this event was to introduce these companies to the services offered by the Faculty of Engineering.
During the visit, those in attendance had the opportunity to view the Faculty's facilities, which included a tour of various departments such as systems and control engineering, mechanical engineering, Industrial electrical power conversion and industrial and manufacturing engineering.
Prior to the visit the delegation was introduced to the Pro-Rector for research, Prof Richard Muscat who thanked the Malta Chamber for coordinating the event. He also encouraged further research in the industrial field. Mr Fauser said that the Malta Chamber strongly believes that such an initiative would create more awareness of the research facilities at the University, which will contribute towards the strengthening of the links between Industry and academia, something which both organisations would like to foster. He insisted that this visit was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Malta and the Malta Chamber.
Members present insisted on the need for the University to become more business friendly and to begin rendering services to industry and the general business community at a commercial level. They underlined that timeliness was a very important aspect in this regard.
Dr Ing. John C. Betts, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering also delivered a presentation about the Faculty’s departments and the potential services which could be rendered to the Industrial sector. Dr Betts said that the faculty was trying its utmost to gear up to service Industry in a more efficient manner. He stated that the courses offered by the Faculty had become very popular and approximately 515 students were following courses at under and post graduate level.
Successful Linking Enterprise Event at Simonds Farsons Cisk
20 members attended a successful Linking Enterprise event that was held at Simonds Farsons Cisk plc on Thursday, the 21st June. Members were welcomed by Malta Chamber Director General Kevin J. Borg, and by Farsons Group Chief Executive, Norman Aquilina. During his speech, Mr. Borg thanked SFC for its continuous support towards the Malta Chamber, and thanked both Mr. Aquilina who is a Malta Chamber Council Member and chairs the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Committee, as well as Antoinette Caruana, who chairs the Malta Chamber Business Education Committee, for their input at the Malta Chamber.
Ms. Caruana, Company Secretary and Group HR Manager at SFC plc, gave a detailed account of the Group’s history, as well as the company’s development from a small family business to one of Malta’s leading group of companies. During her presentation, Ms. Caruana explained how the company’s story is closely linked to the country’s history and its industrial and economic evolution. Ms. Caruana gave details about the mother company that was established in the early 1920s. Today, SFC plc. brews and packages a number of award winning beer brands and produces a vast range of other beverages. As a Group, Farsons has diversified successfully into the fast food sector through its company Food Chain Holdings Limited, the importation of fine wines and spirits, through Farsons Beverage Imports Company Limited (FBIC), the bottling and distribution of water in 18.9 litre bottles, through EcoPure Limited, as well as the importation and distribution of food products through Quintano Foods Limited.
Mr. Chris Borg Cardona, Head of Logistics, explained what led to the centralization of the distribution and warehousing operations of EcoPure Ltd., FBIC Ltd. and five Farsons Depots into one Logistics Centre (LC). He also gave an overview of the modern IT technology and specialised material handling equipment used in the LC and the investment in the development of its employees to give them the skills to work effectively and efficiently in this new modern environment. The LC has contributed significantly to the group’s positive results and has brought significant increase in efficiency, superior standards in quality control and improved customer service.
Following this presentation, members present were invited to visit the LC allowing for the exchange of best practices between the participants.
Linking Enterprise – Achieving Success in New Markets
As part of its Linking Enterprise programme, the Malta Chamber organised an event at the Regus Malta Business centre focusing on best practices related to internationalisation and changes in the working environment.
The well-attended event was held on 23rd April at Regus’ premises, which is a sponsoring partner of the Internationalisation Desk. The event was addressed by Malta Chamber Internationalisation Manager Klaus Pedersen, who gave an overview of the internationalisation support services available to Malta Chamber members.
Participants were welcomed by Area Director in Malta and Italy for Regus Group, Mauro Mordini, who gave a brief overview of the Group’s strategic vision and operations. Regus Malta General Manager Jankarl Farrugia delivered a detailed presentation relating to how internationalisation of businesses is fundamental to recovery and eventually growth.
Mr Farrugia quoted a recently-conducted study by the Group which indicates that only one in five local SMEs are planning to expand their businesses overseas. It was indicated that SMEs are disregarding international trade, despite compelling evidence that firms of all sizes operating overseas are weathering the economic crisis better than those solely focused on the home market. Mr Farrugia mentioned that entering a new market is clearly one of the toughest tasks for any business, and indicated that Regus would be able to assist in this step. When time and resources are limited, it can be a risk for a micro or small business to conduct market research and expand into new markets. It was apparent that property, infrastructure and human capacity are perceived as the key challenges or obstacles to enter a new market.
Mr Farrugia shared Regus’ own experiences about its expansion strategy, growing from one country to making business in 100 countries. An overview of the services delivered to its major clients, such as Google and Salesforce.com was also given to the participants. Mr Farrugia also spoke about the opportunities and challenges encountered by their customers in new markets. While giving an overview of the independent research commissioned by Regus amongst business owners and senior managers across the globe, an analysis of export activity and growing markets was given.
Testimonials
"I believe that we succeeded in achieving what we had planned, and look forward to similar future events. I am aware that some of our members have actually taken the opportunity to discuss their capabilities that their respective firms offer and am aware that there will be follow up meetings with possible future collaboration taking place. Besides some members have agreed to discuss issues of common importance as they arise in the future.
I strongly encourage all members of the Malta chamber to take part in as much as possible of the activities that are organised. Members need to take advantage of this and start reaping the benefits of their membership."
William Wait, Group Director at Toly Products Ltd
Past Linking Enterprise Events
Internationalisation, hosted by World Aviation Group
Best Practice in Environmental Technologies, hosted by Radisson Golden Sands