The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry acknowledges the disappointment of the tourism industry after Malta did not make it in the UK’s green travel list.
Worth noting that Malta came a long way in terms of reducing case numbers in a relatively short span of time. Although there’s a sense of frustration and disappointment, it is worth highlighting that when considering the current number of cases per 100,000, Malta is only marginally higher than Portugal that made it on the UK list. The Malta Chamber said that other countries such as Germany have already declared Malta to be no longer a Covid-19 risk area.
The Malta Chamber believes that this bodes well for the addition of Malta to the UK’s green list at the earliest opportunity. It is therefore imperative that we remain focused on reducing case numbers further and on achieving herd immunity through vaccination as quickly as possible.
Malta is well ahead of other EU countries in this respect, and this will ultimately determine not just how quickly we get on the green list, but also our ability to remain there once tourism opens as from the 1st of June.
The Gozo Business Chamber and The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry are concerned with the way development is happening in Gozo. Gozo has a unique character which both Chambers believe has immense potential for a more sustainable economic development and growth that respects the island’s culture and authenticity.
The present rate of over development fuelled by existing policies needs to be rethought. Any development needs to be taken within the context where it is taking place, and this includes our rural communities and towns. To this end both Chambers call for established design guidelines which respect the context of our towns and villages. The design of any proposed development needs to be seriously considered and evaluated within the context of the streetscape to ensure that it gives a positive contribution to the local distinctiveness. Clear design guidelines respecting the context of our towns and villages complemented by a well thought out aesthetics policy are required. In this sense Gozo can serve as a test bed where policies can then be deployed at a national level.
There also needs to be a coherent application and interpretation of policies. Policies must be interpreted within their wider context rather than a pick-and-choose approach of abstracts from one policy or another. We are seeing the demolition of terraced houses and buildings which merit conservation to be replaced with apartment blocks, whilst the character of Gozo’s urban streetscapes and other aspects such as their proximity to urban conservation areas and outside development zones are being completely ignored.
During a joint media conference at the Cittadella, the President of the Gozo Business Chamber, Joseph Borg highlighted that the Chamber is in favour of sustainable development which promotes quality construction that embellishes the environment and not abuses it. This should be done within the context of Gozo achieving carbon neutrality prior to Malta. “We need to stop, think and plan in the long term” said Joseph Borg, indicating that this is a process which should involve architects, developers and policy makers.
In this context, both Chambers said that the property and construction industry should be incentivised to move towards more sustainable development. The protection of Gozo’s green belts, and a thoughtful and judicious use of what is permissible on outside development zones, including a genuine use of such land when needed, should seriously be considered during the evaluation process of any development.
“Gozo has a unique character. Its uniqueness contributes directly to our competitiveness and it is our duty to ensure that the industry develops in a way which takes into account the unique fabric and character of our islands, the challenges posed by climate change, and the well-being of the community at large” the President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Marisa Xuereb said.
Both Chamber representatives said that the strategic direction for Gozo should be based on sustainable forms of tourism and economic development. They called on authorities to incentivise emerging economic sectors related to digitalisation and the green economy. Such economic opportunities can help Gozo reach carbon neutrality prior to Malta.
Both Chambers believe that Gozo can thrive in many ways. Development should serve the common good and create real economic value which does not impinge on the quality of life.
Atlas Insurance underlined the various benefits of Corporate Wellness during a webinar which was organised in collaboration with the Health and Wellness Committee of the Malta Chamber on 6 May.
The event, which was addressed by leading professionals in the field, was chaired by Catherine Calleja, Managing Director at Atlas Healthcare and Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee.
The aim of the programme was to show that wellness has a measurable effect on engagement and productivity at work. Cathy Peric, a psychotherapist with a focus on resilience, focused on particular aspects of wellness and how they have been shown to improve work performance and create a safe place for employees to flourish. Kerry Paterson, from ICAS International followed up with a very practical demonstration on how to set up a successful wellness programme at work and measure results. The final speaker was Ian Pisani, Director of J&C Pisani and a member of the Health and Wellness Committee, who focused on the particular wellness challenges in a family business environment and mitigation strategies to thrive in the family business paradigm.
Concluding the webinar, Catherine Calleja said “We truly believe that employee wellness has a direct contribution to the success of any venture and as such should be a priority for any employer or leader.”
She noted how Atlas Healthcare had partnered with ICAS International, which provides unlimited telephone access to psychologists for employees and their families, as well as local face to face counselling, legal and financial helplines and support for HR and line managers.
Atlas Healthcare Insurance Agency Ltd is authorised under the Insurance Distribution Act to act as Enrolled Insurance Agents for Atlas Insurance PCC Limited for general insurance business. Both entities are regulated by the MFSA.
Earlier today, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry held a virtual meeting with the Hon Prime Minister Dr Abela to introduce the new Board of Management and put forward its priorities for the coming months. The Minister for Economy, Hon Silvio Schembri was also present.
The Malta Chamber President Marisa Xuereb raised several issues which are impacting business and how they can be addressed to fuel recovery and encourage growth. The President spoke on the challenges and uncertainty being faced by a number of economic sectors such as tourism, arts, entertainment, elderly care and retail. Better access to finance and clarity on the future of the wage supplement would facilitate business planning and investment. Reference was made to public procurement and the need to enhance transparency and ensure a level playing field.
Internationalisation needs to be given priority as the principal route to growth. A concerted effort to identify markets that offer real potential for local businesses as well as the establishment of a Free Trade Zone is key to success. Equally important is getting the nation’s branding right particularly as Malta emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks to rebuild its economy and international reputation.
The Malta Chamber recommended revisiting the current corporate tax framework to help local business become more competitive in a globalised environment. The importance of incentivising private investment in infrastructural and green economy projects was highlighted in pursuing the country’s ambitions to improve quality of life.
The Malta Chamber presented its policy paper in response to the public consultation on the proposed Recreational Cannabis Reform.
The meeting was attended by Deputy President Mr Christopher Vassallo Cesareo, Vice-Presidents Mr Nicholas Xuereb and Ms Liz Barbaro Sant, Officers Mr Norman Aquilina, Mr Mark Bajada and Mr Ian Casolani, and new CEO Dr Marthese Portelli.
The Malta Business Bureau welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe’s recovery. The strategy outlines the EU’s commitment to ensure that its industrial vision learns lessons from the COVID-19 crisis and helps drive the transformation to a more sustainable, digital, resilient and globally competitive economy.
The Communication proposes a set of instruments including a Single Market Emergency Instrument, a structural solution to ensure free movement during future crises; enforcing the Services Directive to ensure that Member States comply with their obligations to not introduce disproportionate requirements on foreign companies; strengthening market surveillance of products by supporting national authorities to increase capacity; and mobilising investment to support SMEs, including addressing payment delays, providing measures to address solvency risks and implementing Alternative Dispute Resolution schemes.
MBB President Simon De Cesare stated, “The revamped Industrial Strategy is a very good step forward aimed towards solidifying the Single Market, which is the EU’s biggest and most successful project. We particularly welcome the initiatives to ensure minimal disruption in the Single Market during future crises, as it will allow for smoother cross-border movement of goods and services which were severely disrupted during the pandemic.”
“In addition, we are very happy to see two key issues raised by the MBB in the 2019 report on the Single Market, ‘The Impact of the European Single Market on Maltese Businesses’, have been taken up. Specifically, the commitment for greater enforcement on the obligations of the Services Directive which will ensure that Member States do not introduce protectionist requirements, as well as providing support to Member States’ market surveillance authorities to increase their capacity to better be able to go about their duties and ensure a fair level playing field for all companies,” concluded Mr De Cesare.
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has launched a new business section for employment agencies to bring together supporting recruitment agencies and employment services firms operating in Malta.
The new section aims at strengthening the voice of employment agencies by addressing regulatory matters, specifically those related to Government agencies.
Mr Lawrence Zammit, Founding Partner & Director at MISCO was elected chairperson of this new section. “Employment services activities have increased significantly over the years as job opportunities grew and new career paths opened. This has encouraged a number of players in this sector to come together to ensure that there is a level playing field in the market and to encourage service providers to develop a more professional approach when servicing their customers,” said Mr Zammit.
“The legislation regulating this sector has been in place since the mid-1990s. I do not believe it needs changing but it needs to be enforced. My expectation is that through this new business section employment services would be placed on a more sound basis,” noted Mr Lawrence Zammit.
The five-member committee is composed of Mr Lawrence Zammit (MISCO Consulting Ltd) as Chairperson, Mr Josef Said (Konnekt Search & Selection Ltd) as Deputy Chairperson, Ms Naomi Barry (Fenlex Corporate Services Ltd), Mr Robert J. Sultana (Vacancy Centre) and Mr David Cutajar (People & Co. Ltd).
HSBC Bank Malta is launching Business Plan for the Planet to assist businesses and corporations in their transition to a sustainable, low carbon business model. Climate change needs solid strategy and HSBC believes that businesses are uniquely placed to help.
By mobilising the capital required to finance the transition to a sustainable model by HSBC Malta customers, the bank is helping to support the real economy in the change to a green future. The initiative is part of the bank’s global commitment to help developed and developing countries address climate change while achieving prosperity and economic development.
This change has, to some extent, been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen Government fiscal stimulus increasingly linked to climate goals. As a result, more companies are committing themselves to ‘net-zero’ emissions while sustainability-aligned investments have been outperforming since the start of the crisis.
Joyce Grech, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC Malta, said: “HSBC believes that the challenges of climate change and sustainability can be met if business is part of the solution. Entrepreneurs have the skills, systems, and resources to make the changes we all need. Through Business Plan for the Planet, HSBC Malta, together with the rest of the HSBC Group, is providing the support business needs to create a prosperous and sustainable future.”
In addition to supporting clients around the world, HSBC’s bold ambition to become the leading bank for the transition to a net-zero economy also includes a commitment for the bank itself to become a net-zero business and to directly support new solutions to tackle climate change.
More information on HSBC’s Business Plan for the Planet is available at: . www.business.hsbc.com.mt/bpfp
