Author: SME Chamber

Despite a
crisis-driven decline in investment, global production of photovoltaic (PV)
cells grew by 10% in 2012. Europe remains leader in newly installed capacities
with over half (51.7%) of the new worldwide capacity of 30 GW.

GRTU
hospitality and leisure division has expressed their satisfaction on the
announcement of the return of the British Airways to Malta that will start
operations in March. The Section takes this opportunity to welcomes the airline
and augurs it success. It emphasized this will continue broadening Malta's
marketing mix as a country which is something GRTU always believed in.

GRTU official
Joe Attard has earlier this week met Dr. Andreina Fenech Farrugia, Director
General of Fisheries at Ghammieri. Over the last weeks a number of pleasure
boat operators in Gozo complained that they do not have a docking facility for
their use.

In Malta there are currently two private facilities that are very
expensive and another facility in Marsaxlokk which is however made available
only for the use of fisherman and on the other hand pleasure boats are not
allowed to make use of it. As such, the nearest facility they can make use of
and that is more reasonably priced is in Sicily.

The
Fisheries DG pointed out that the issue has already been brought to her
attention from individuals and the Directorate has as such already requested
guidelines from both State Aid Directorate and the Competition watchdog MCCAA.

She
explained that the first hurdle is the legal issue and once that is overcome
the logistical problems will be taken on board. She was sceptical due to state
aid issues or competition law issues. She mentioned that private docking
operators have already written directly to the Commission over the matter.

GRTU
noted that it is aware that these operators face an uphill struggle although
they also contribute to the economy. GRTU further commented on the fact that
although the Mgarr harbour project was affected there were no plan for a
docking facility for Gozitans.

GRTU
Gozo representative Joanna Mifsud who was also present for the meeting outlined
how these operators have been complaining year in year out, but a solution was
never found. She mentioned the fact that wonders seem to be available to
fishermen only, whilst for the pleasure boat industry there seemed to be only
problems without solutions.

Ms.
Andreina Fenech Farrugia advised that feedback regarding the issue will be
forwarded to GRTU by the second week of October. The fisheries facility manager
and the legal advisor were also present for this short cordial meeting. 

As part of the
Management Partnership agreement between the Malta-EU Steering and Action
Committee (MEUSAC) and the European Commission, MEUSAC is currently
implementing a project entitled, ‘The Economic Recovery: Overcoming the Crisis
Together'.

The
scope of the project is to engage stakeholders in evaluating how the economic
crisis has affected their operations and to seek ways of contributing to the
economic recovery. This is to be achieved through the organisation of a
Business Breakfast, Public Dialogues and Information Sessions.

During
this Business Breakfast, which seeks to target the business sector in Malta,
participants will be briefed about the Commission's 2013 Competitiveness
Report. This Report seeks to identify opportunities to make European industries
more competitive. Mr Gérald Petit, Policy Analyst – Analysis of Economic
Reforms, from DG Enterprise and Industry, will be giving a presentation on the
Report which was launched on September 25, 2013.

In view
of seating restrictions, only persons representing Government, businesses,
social partners and the civil society are invited. If you are interested kindly
register by sending an email on by not later than Tuesday,
October 8, 2013.

Date: Thursday, October 10, 2013

Time:
8:30am – 11:00am

Venue:
Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana

GRTU gives a
wholehearted welcome to one of its newest Sections – The Dairy Products
Distributors Section. Most people are unaware of, the fact that fresh milk and
dairy products produced locally are distributed by hard working, labourious and
incredibly efficient self employed sole traders.

Before
most of the nation is awake, these are the men who are loading our favourite
dairy products into their vans and delivering them across the country within a
ridiculously short time frame thus providing the population with daily fresh products,
literally before breakfast time.

GRTU
will be addressing several matters raised by these Distributors with the aim of
improving their work experience and safeguarding their rights in order to
strengthen their business.

GRTU Deputy President
Philip Fenech has this week participated in a consultation meeting organized by
MEUSAC on the Single European Sky 2+. This second regulatory package is
performance-oriented. Its ultimate objective is to increase the economic,
financial and environmental performance of the provisions of the Air Navigation
Services in Europe.

Key facts and
figures:

European
skies and airports risk saturation

800 million
passengers pass through Europe's more than 440 airports every year

Each day
there are around 27,000 controlled flights – that means 9 million cross
Europe's skies each year

80% of these
flights are operated within the EU

The number
of flights is expected to increase by 50% over the next 10-20 years

If nothing
is done there will be chaos. Europe would not only have to reject a large
portion of potential demand, it would also be vulnerable to delays and flight
cancellations on an unprecedented scale

Business as
usual- congestion costs will increase around 50% by 2050

The central
problem is that Europe's air traffic management systems are fragmented and
inefficient

GRTU is strongly in
favour of increased efficiencies in air transport and this proposal is exactly
targeted to introduce centralized systems amongst others that would increase
efficiency. Although there might be many arguments against the proposal it is
the way forward and the only logical way in which things can progress. It will
save the cost and time of commuting which we believe will help boost the EU's
economy and increase mobility of tourists. We feel some issues and concerns
might have to be addressed to take into consideration the particular situation
in the Member States but otherwise we feel the aim of the proposal are in
everyone's best interest.

GRTU held a
cordial meeting with Mr. Joshua Zammit, CEO at Malta Industrial Parks in
relation to a number of issues facing GRTU's members in Gozo. The meeting
focused on the current situation of leases at Ta' Dbiegi Crafts Village and the
conditions issued with each individual lease.

Mr Paul
Abela, GRTU President outlined that it was MIP's responsibility to make sure
that although policies change from time to time, certain primary conditions
should remain cardinal. In this case, some leases were issued for 65years,
others for ten years and expired many years ago, others for three to five
years. A major condition of a leased unit included manufacturing of crafts on
site and selling them from this Crafts Village.

GRTU
officials present for the meeting pointed out that a Crafts Village cannot be
allowed to deteriorate to just retailing because of a few operators who should
know better. GRTU stated that MIP is responsible to enforce the fact that the
conditions of the lease should be respected.

MIP CEO
Joshua Zammit advised that he will look into the leases and provide feedback to
GRTU at the earliest possible. A few individual issues related to individual
tenants of land, leased by MIP were also discussed and it was agreed that GRTU
is to send all documents so that individual cases are followed. GRTU officials
thanked Mr Joshua Zammit for his hospitality and will be awaiting feedback

GRTU has this week written to the Minister for Transport and
Infrastructure Hon. Joe Mizzi, to bring to his attention the situation being
endured by business owners in Republic Street. GRTU explained that they feel
discriminated due to the fact that for the last years tourists coming to Malta
by cruise liners have been pushed directly into Merchants Street through a
direct transport system and the lift.

GRTU has complained about the situation on several
occasions and the reason given to us was always that Republic Street is being
avoided due to the extensive works being carried out as part of the project. At
the time in fact the pavement was not completed but today Republic Street is
once again fit and is able to welcome tourists. GRTU emphasized that having
spent so much money on this project the very entrance of Republic Street now is
in itself fascinating and a tourist attraction, encompassing the world famous
Renzo Piano Parliament as well as the view of the freshly excavated fortress.

GRTU therefore called for a shuttle service from the
cruise liner terminal to the bus terminal to be provided immediately with the
introduction of the new arrangement provided by Arriva.

GRTU President Paul Abela and
Renewable Energy Section President Noel Gauci have reached an agreement with
the Minister for Energy and the Conservation of Water, Hon Konrad Mizzi, to
join forces and boost the sector that operates in Photovoltaics in both quality
and sales.

Through this agreement the Ministry will be supporting schemes
earlier launched by GRTU, namely the GRTU APPROVED Certification and the PVPFS
(PV Purchase Facilitation Scheme) to increase the number of families becoming
owners of a safe, renewable energy system. As a first step of the agreed plan
the Ministry and the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) will be sponsoring a
promotion and information campaign through various media, followed by a
specialized fair in October.

These GRTU schemes are aimed
at raising the quality standards in sales methods and installations, make PV
systems affordable to more families and as a result increase sales. Quality is
continuously being monitored by GRTU officials while purchasing is made easy
via a three year loan scheme with no interest or charges for the clients. Some
GRTU APPROVED members market their total system cost as low as €25/month (€900)
thanks to the grant being offered by the MRA, electricity produced during this
3 year period and the PVPFS scheme.

GRTU welcomes the positive
attitude of the Minister and we feel this augurs well for the sector and will
set renewable energy in Malta on the way to become at par with other European
Member States. This is the kind of responsive attitude we wish to see more in
the public service in general where they regard the private sector and their
representatives as partners with whom they can collaborate for the benefit of
everyone.

Another very important issue
GRTU is discussing with the Ministry are the plans for large PV farms with the
aim of achieving the best deals from investors whilst giving all operators the
chance to participate in the supply and installation processes. GRTU is also
proposing that pockets of up to 3kW of these PV farms are made available for
sale to families that do not own roof space where they can have their own PV
system installed, solving a long standing situation of frustration for these
families. GRTU is insisting that given all the limitations we are faced with in
our country such as capability of Enemalta to sustain considerable increase in
feed in tariff payments and suitable rooftops and land availability, prior to
the approval of large projects, MRA together with GRTU should ensure that these
are backed by a plan aimed at creating long term and sustainable green jobs for
all operators and opportunities for Maltese families. GRTU is convinced that
through ongoing dialogue the interests of everyone can be safeguarded.