Author: SME Chamber

Why
did you become an entrepreneur? I
always had the interested to do something on my own, with my own ideas. Plus I
also wanted to be my own boss. How
have you come to choose your line of business?

My
interest in becoming a pharmacist goes before my sixth form years. I never
wanted to become a doctor or anything related, I was sure I wanted to be a
pharmacist.

Where
did you go on your last holiday?

Assisi
and Rome. In Assisi the serenity, peace and calmness strike you while the
culture and history of Rome are very impressive. There was excellent weather as
well.

What
is your earliest memory?

The
small and innocent mischief my twin brother and I would do. I don't have
stories of exchanging girlfriends, which once happened but at no fault of ours,
or of writing each other's exams. We never abused of the situation.

If
you could chose to be someone famous who would you be and why?

I
cannot think of anyone famous but I admire a Maltese Kappuccin who is younger
than me but whom I admire and find inspiring from him words.

A representative from the Malta
Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) will be at the Business First office in
Pietà every Friday morning, thereby enhancing the service offered from the
one-stop-shop for businesses, which already gathers more than 50 Government
services under one roof.

While applications will still need to
be submitted directly with MEPA, at Business First clients may check the status
of their MEPA application as well as obtain explanations on the pre-screening
process and on the general parameters of permits for specific developments.

The staff at Business First has also
been given basic training on MEPA procedures in order to be able to provide
basic guidance to businesses throughout the rest of the week.

The addition of the service to Business
First's offering reflects the commitment to monitor and analyse clients'
feedback to see what business services are required and, where possible, start
offering such services.

The initial list of services was also
based on a survey among 200 enterprises which amongst others asked what the
major issues of concern for local enterprises are and what services are
expected from such a one-stop-shop facility.

Amongst others, Business First already
provided services related to the Legal Entity Establishment, Employment
Registration, Registration for Tax purposes, Registration for VAT services,
Residence permits, Licenses including trading and tourism-related licenses, and
applications related to utilities services.

Moreover, through its professional
guidance Business First can help businesses find their way through the various
requirements they need to adhere to, what applications need to be compiled,
what documentation needs to be submitted, and – equally important – where all
this can be done.

By carrying out most formalities under
one roof at Business First, businesses can save time and unnecessary running
around, thereby having the possibility to focus more on their business
operations.

The growth and successful operation of
businesses is also supported through the guidance and provision of Malta
Enterprise schemes and services.

Since its launch in January, more than
3,700 contacts have been made by clients with Business First, which opens on
weekdays between 08:15h and 17:00h, with extended hours until 19:00h on
Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Further information may be obtained
from the dedicated website www.businessfirst.com.mt or by calling the Business
First helpline on telephone number 144.

Fil-proċess ta' ħidma biex titfassal strateġija
tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar it-turiżmu marittimu u dak kostali, il-Kummissjoni
Ewropea qed tniedi konsultazzjoni pubblika biex tikseb l-opinjonijiet
tal-partijiet interessati dwar l-isfidi u l-opportunitajiet għat-turiżmu marittimu
u kostali fl-Ewropa.

Għal dan il-għan, il-Malta-EU Steering and
Action Committee (MEUSAC) flimkien mal-Ministeru għat-Turiżmu, l-Ambjent u
l-Kultura, se jorganizza laqgħa ta' konsultazzjoni marbuta ma' dan is-settur
vitali għall-ekonomija Maltija.

Il-laqgħa ser issir bil-MALTI nhar il-Ħamis, 14 ta' Ġunju 2012,
fis-siegħa ta' wara nofsinhar, f'Dar l-Ewropa, 254, Triq San Pawl,
il-Belt
Valletta.

Biextirreġistra,
inti ġentilment mitlub tkellem lill-MEUSAC sa mhux aktar tard minn nofsinhar tal-Erbgħa,
13 ta' Ġunju 2012 fuq l-indirizzelettroniku.

Around 20 Maltese companies from the building and
construction sector have been assisted by Malta Enterprise to participate in
the Libya Build 2012, where they had the opportunity to showcase their products
and services, establish relations with their Libyan counterparts and explore
business prospects within post-revolution Libya.

The companies – which operate in a wide range of sectors,
such as lifts and electromechanical systems, construction materials, furniture
and fittings, environmental solutions, turnkey contractors and project
management, paints, printing, aluminium, as well as garages, doors and windows
– reported good interest in their offering.

Indeed, they were kept busy throughout the entire event held
at the Tripoli International Fairground over a span of five days between May
20th and 24th, 2012 and shall now be following up on the business leads they
established.

Likewise, the Malta Enterprise representative at the
Commercial Office in Tripoli, who was also present at the event, had several
meetings to promote the trade opportunities that Malta offers to Libyan
companies as well as the assistance and support that companies operating in
Malta may benefit from.

After presiding over the opening ceremony, the Libyan
Minister of Economy Dr Ahmed Al-Koushli made it a point to visit the Malta
Pavilion, where he not only visited the Maltese companies but also had a short
meeting with Malta's Ambassador in Libya Victor Camilleri and the Malta
Enterprise representative in Libya Salem Megadmi.

Malta Enterprise also organized an information session for
Maltese companies with the Organization for Development of Administrative Centers
(ODAC), which executes a wide range of public projects particularly the
strategic and major infrastructural projects, as well as a networking session
for Maltese and Austrian businesses in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy
in Libya.

With infrastructure projects being among the Libya's
priorities after months of unrest, Libya Build provided the ideal setting for
those enterprises looking at opportunities within a market that is seeking to
establish itself as one of the most advanced in the region.

The event also featured expertise and technology across a
broad range of sectors from the international community, particularly from
countries in the Euro-Med region which had the strongest presence among the
almost 650 participating companies.

Malta Enterprise's own participation at the Libya Build 2012
and the support provided to local companies to participate in the event is part
of the initiatives being taken to strengthen the commercial links between the
two neighbouring countries, which also include participation in the Libyan
Healthcare Exhibition 2012 being held in the coming September.

The event is of strategic importance for companies engaged in
healthcare in view of the extensive support required by this sector in Libya.
It will provide a unique opportunity to establish direct communication with
Libyan decision-makers in the healthcare sector and to obtain information on
medical needs and planned projects in this field.

Malta Enterprise is currently registering local companies
interested in taking part in the event, which amongst others may include
private hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical companies, suppliers of medical
equipment and products, as well as other medical related service providers.

These initiatives follow up on the visit by an official
delegation led by the Minister of Finance, Economy, and Investment and the
Minister for Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers to Libya about a
month ago, when they held meetings with the Libyan Ministers for Industry, the
Economy and Transport.

On the sides of this visit, 20 Maltese companies operating in
the maritime industry formed a business delegation that visited the country to
explore business opportunities, view the operating environment at some of
Libya's major ports and meet their Libyan counterparts.

Following these meetings, the first meeting of the Technical
Committee for Trade and Investment was conducted with the aim of facilitating
trade and investment between the two countries, in line with the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between Malta Enterprise and the General Board of
Privatisation and Investment in Libya earlier this year.

Malta Enterprise and Transport Malta also organised two
separate seminars for Libyan officials involved in regulating these sectors
with the aim of providing training and assistance to these public bodies based
on Malta's expertise in these fields.

The European Union's Competitiveness
and Innovation Programme (CIP) is assisting public and private entities,
particularly SMEs, to embark on eco-innovation projects through which they make
better use of resources or reduce negative environmental impact of their
operations.

Around €35million are available for the
funding of projects through the Eco-Innovation initiative this year, with the
European Commission funding up to 50% of the project's eligible costs for
successful applicants.

By encouraging projects for the first
market piloting of products, techniques, services and processes that reduce
emissions, use resources efficiently, facilitate recycling and so on,
Eco-Innovation represents a key opportunity to overcome sustainability
challenges whilst making the economy even stronger and more competitive.

Details about the CIP's Eco-Innovation
initiative – for which the yearly Call for Applications is open until September
6, 2012 – were given during an information session organised by Malta
Enterprise, which hosts the CIP's National Contact Point for Malta.

Pedro Fernandez Alvarez, the National
Contact Point for Malta within Malta Enterprise, said that the Eco-Innovation
initiative helps good ideas with a proven track record but which are not fully
marketed due to residual risks, overcome barriers to become fully-fledged
commercial prospects ready for use by the consumer, or business and industry.

A number of projects which made
successful use of the CIP's Eco-Innovation assistance were also showcased,
amongst which a printing company which converted paper mill sludge into
absorbent material used to clean up oil and chemical spills in harbours, as
well as a waste-collection company which is automatically sorting various
metals by quality for recycling.

Besides giving details about this
year's open Call and highlighting the benefits for innovative Maltese SMEs, Mr
Alvarez also explained how to write a good proposal to ensure that applications
stand a better chance of being approved and encouraged participants to contact
Malta Enterprise for assistance.

Another presentation was delivered
during the information session by George Francalanza, Head of Business First,
who focused on the assistance and guidance provided by the one-stop-shop for
businesses also located at the Malta Enterprise head office in Pietà. These
include a wide variety of schemes and incentives which are aimed at supporting
enterprises undertaking innovative projects as well as initiatives aimed at
improving their impact on the environment.

On his part, the Head of the EU
Business Development at Bank of Valletta Mark SciclunaBartoli spoke about SMEs
access to finance when embarking on eco-innovation and other projects. He gave
details of other funding assistance available to implement not only
eco-innovative but also other projects, such as the JEREMIE MicroCredit scheme
administered by BOV through which enterprises may obtain a loan of up to
€510,000 at advantageous interest rates.

Further information on the CIP and the
Eco-Innovation initiative may be obtained by contacting the CIP National
Contact Point within Malta Enterprise on 2542 0000 or , or by
visiting www.cipmalta.com.

GRTU has this
week held another successful New Libya Investment Law information session. One
of the main services offered by GRTU today is helping local enterprises explore
business opportunities outside the Maltese shores through hosting of foreign
business delegations, participation in delegations abroad, finding partners,
exploring new markets, etc…

Libya is
understandably a market of interest for local enterprises both for its
opportunities and historical relations with our country. The way of doing
business in Libya has changed drastically following the revolution and is being
accompanied by changes in the legal system, including the laws concerning
investment.  GRTU wanted local
enterprises to be prepared and protected when approaching Libya and it is to
this end that GRTU Council Member and Libya relations representative Mario
Debono invited a Libyan consultancy to explain this New Investment Law. The
consultancy's main area of specialty is the conduct of legal studies, analysis
and set-up companies, financial advisory in addition to providing corporate
solutions.  They also provide an
important strategic gate-way to doing business in Libya.

The meeting was
very insightful. It was explained that when eying Libya one has to start by
understanding the current situation. Libya is in an era of transition
politically, economically and socially and it is still recovering from the
consequences of the revolution. Libya remains a highly challenging market, and
while there are potential investment opportunities, there are corresponding
great challenges to successfully operating in Libya.

The revolution
has led to a great deal of confusion particularly among foreign investors
because the shifting of regulation and procedures and a weak regulatory
environment have not inspired confidence in the market. Following a reform
process enacted by the former regime, a slight growth in the economy took place
in the banking system and amongst SMEs.

The
main challenges of the Libyan market remain:

Lack of sufficient information on Libyan companies

Lack of transparency in the tendering process

Instability in terms of security, regulation and political environment

Underdeveloped banking system

Lack of skilled and educated labour

Corruption

Lengthy bureaucratic process

Difficulty finding reliable Libyan partners

When
considering market entry it is important that any processes are
official to guarantee security and protection of the investment. Foreign
Investors have five main options when considering market entry, each of
which have certain advantages and restricitons:

Representative Office

Branch Office

Joint Venture Company with a local firm

Registration under Investment Law No. 5 of 1997 (Openness to Foreign Investment)

Mentioned also where the Prohibited
activities for foreign investors, requirement for getting approval, privileges
and exemptions and an overview of the tax system.

Further information may be obtained by
contacting Abigail Mamo at GRTU on or 21232881.

Green MT and the Mellieha Local Council
have once again partnered together to help keep the popular Ghadira beach clean
this summer. A number of recyclable bins have been placed in strategic
positions along the beach to provide a means of reducing the waste that is
dumped yearly on this beach by the thousands that use it.Not only will this
initiative reduce the amount of waste dumped on this beach, it will allow for
the waste to be separated at source. Green MT would like to thank the Mellieha Local Council for
their cooperation in making this project another success.

Competitiveness Council
– Digital Single Market and Governance of the Single Market
: The Single Market plays a key role in overcoming Europe’s present economic challenges. It is crucial to make the Single Market work on the ground, including the Digital Single Market, by effectively implementing and enforcing Single Market principles and rules.

This requires political will and strong commitment by all stakeholders, especially European institutions, national parliaments and authorities at all levels. Furthermore, focus is needed on special national regulation. Each year more than 700 new national technical regulations are notified to the Commission. They all create barriers to the free movement, unnecessary administrative burdens and extra costs for businesses. Better governance is clearly needed, and concrete and measurable indicators should be developed as well as efficient monitoring. Effective and rapid problem solving mechanisms should be established, including online dispute solution systems. The need to complete the Digital Single Market is necessary in order to promote growth and competitiveness.

E-commerce and e-procurement should be facilitated through concrete measures. Better instruments for cloud computing, including swift approval of the draft directive on data protection and a better framework for ensuring intellectual property rights are welcome. Public Procurement The ministers are expected to discuss state of play of the negotiations on the draft directive on public procurement. They are in particular expected to discuss the deadlines for introducing e-procurement and the division of tasks between the Commission and national authorities. It is not expected that they will reach agreement on a common approach.

The Council’s work is positive in this regard and we support a swift introduction of e-procurement in EU public procurement. This can be done simply by ensuring the possibility to collect and deliver tender and bidding material electronically. But there is still a need to go further in simplifying EU’s procurement rules. In this line, DI is extremely concerned about the EP’s draft report on the directive. Foreign Affairs Council (trade) Free Trade agreement EU/Japan The ministers will discuss the state of play of the preparations to start negotiations with Japan on an FTA.

The main challenges in the preparations have been disagreements on technical trade barriers, access to public procurement markets and the juridical connection of an FTA with a political framework agreement. While government hope for a finalisation of the scoping exercise during this presidential period, the outlook for the coming month seems quite bleak. Europe must promote free trade for growth. The EU should continue to pursue bilateral free trade agreements with emerging economies and strategic partners. The demand for reciprocity must not become an argument for protectionist measures. Instead of protectionism, the ongoing scoping exercise with Japan should be a steppingstone to begin real and ambitious negotiations, as it is clear that an FTA will have positive economic effects through increased trade and creation of jobs.

Green growth / green trade liberalization

The Council will discuss a paper from the Commission on how to liberalize the international market for green products. It is expected that most Member States will support the Commission’s intensified efforts to ensure market access for climate friendly products. This discussion is encouraging, as liberalization will contribute to European export and growth.

EU/US high-level working group for jobs and growth

The ministers will discuss the state of play of the transatlantic dialogue on trade and investment relations. Progress in the transatlantic cooperation is welcomed. EU-US relations are vital, as the two economies are closely intertwined. Eliminating transatlantic tariffs alone could boost EU GDP by 0.5 pct. But the agreement must be even more ambitious and go far beyond tariffs.

The high-level working group is expected to publish an interim report on their work in June this year. By eliminating barriers within tariffs, standards, investments and regulation between the transatlantic economies, we can create a sort of transatlantic Internal Market for goods, services and knowledge, and harvest the total potential of our large economies.

Informal General Affairs Council

The Multiannual Financial Framework

Building upon the result of today’s General Affairs Council, the Council will reconvene for an informal meeting on 10-11 June to finalise the so-called ‘negotiation tool box’ for the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF). Before the MFF reaches the European Council of 28-29 June, the MFF negotiations will be handed over to the finance ministers at ECOFIN who will debate the overall size of the MFF and of the individual headings.

Growth policies are on the top of the political agenda for all European leaders. However, as most leaders are fiscally constrained, due to their commitment to balanced budgets, the reform of the MFF comes at a perfect time. Reform the budget and redirect EU’s funds so that every euro cent is used to invest in growth.

The reform of the EU budget is a growth opportunity – all the EU leaders have to do is turn ‘growth talk’ into action. For the business community the priorities are clear. Use the EU budget as a long-term investment tool. This means more funds to invest in infrastructure (transport, energy and ICT). It also means investing in research, innovation and development. To do this, without increasing the EU budget, the reform of the Common Agricultural Support must be significantly accelerated.

Financial and Economic Council

New VAT strategy

Ministers of ECOFIN adopted conclusions on a new VAT strategy. Improvements in the VAT system are important due to its’ impact on day-to-day business. The changes will improve the functioning of the Single Market, thus increase growth and tax revenues. The Council supports greater involvement of businesses in developing the VAT rules. For businesses it should be as simple to conduct business in other EU Member States as it is to operate at national level. In reality, studies show that companies have abstained from doing business in another EU country due to the burdens of VAT compliance.

The EU needs a VAT-strategy that sets the path for creating a simpler and harmonised VAT system. Such a system should facilitate intra-community trade to the extent that this trade is not significantly riskier, more burdensome or complicated as compared with domestic trade. Real improvements in the VAT system require political willingness and compromises by the Member States, but the benefit for all would be increased growth – and thus increased tax revenues. We hope that the Council will continue with an even more ambitious approach and agree on a strategy setting both short and long-term goals.

Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV)

The Ministers also reached an agreement on a general approach on the Capital Requirement Directive. Responses to the regulatory failures which led to the financial crisis are welcome. Hopefully, they can prevent similar events from occurring in the future. Despite all good intentions, tighter capital requirements in the financial sector will have a wide impact on the real economy. The new framework will require banks to reduce their lending and increase the cost of credit. Moreover, banks are likely to become more reluctant to invest in companies. Altogether, this will impair companies’ access to finance and thus their ability to prosper and create growth.

At a time when economic recovery can only be ensured by increased corporate investment, the implementation of reform measures could create an overall shortage of finance. In particular, this will affect SMEs which are highly dependent on bank lending. Policymakers must obviously deal with regulatory failures. However, they must also ensure financing conditions for companies enabling them to create growth and jobs in Europe.

Forthcoming Commission Proposals

30 May 2012 Growth and employment: country specific recommendations and Convergence report 2012

6 June 2012 Single Market: communication to the June Council on deepening the Single Market for services and communication on strengthening its governance Energy: communication on renewable energy strategy Digital agenda: Regulation on electronic transactions in the internal market

12 June 2012 (in Strasbourg) Communication on the new integrated strategy against human trafficking

20 June 2012 Legislative proposal on the protection of financial interests of the EU including by criminal law

11 July 2012 Revision of directive on clinical trials in the pharmaceutical sector

Europe needs new ideas to boost its growth potential. Industrial innovation is one of the key drivers to improve our competitiveness. This is why the Commission is launching today a new public consultation, which is meant to provide input for the mid-term review of the industrial policy communication planned for September 2012. This review will focus on developing a limited number of new initiatives that can deliver substantial results in the short- to medium-term.

Moreover new policy initiatives should have a demonstrable and significant impact on competitiveness, growth and jobs. The European Commission draws the attention to this important component of its economic growth strategy on the occasion of today's Conference "Mission Growth: Europe at the Lead of the New Industrial Revolution".

The conference is expected to give strong impetus to the debate about new ideas for the growth strategy focusing on the real economy and industrial innovation in view of promoting a European leading role in the new technological development (see MEMO/12/383). High-ranking speakers at the conference include the President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso, Vice President Antonio Tajani, Professor Jeremy Rifkin, several EU Ministers and industrial leaders.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: "Europe's economy cannot survive in a sustainable way if it cannot rely on a strong and profoundly reshaped industrial base. Industry is a big contributor to the real economy producing real values. All efforts need to be undertaken to secure a modern, resource efficient, competitive and robust industry in Europe. I call on all who can and like to contribute to the planned reshape our industrial policy to let us know what they think should be done.

“Public Consultation webpage: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/industrial-competitiveness/index_en.htmMore information on industrial competitiveness

The consultation

The main objectives of the consultation are to discuss what policy priorities the European Commission should focus on and to gather recommendations from stakeholders on how to boost competitiveness of European industries. The public consultation will encourage stakeholders and others to consider questions like:

• Which are the major policy priorities facing European industry today?

• How can businesses themselves better respond to these issues?

• What can policymakers do to address the issues at Member state, local or regional level?

• What can policymakers do to address the issues at EU level? What are the issues covered by the consultation? The questionnaire identifies a number of key areas for possible policy intervention and asks for stakeholders' views on options for changes.

Some of the issues covered are the following:

• SME-friendly business environment and entrepreneurship

• Access to finance and risk capital • Industrial innovation and technologies policy

• Skills, restructuring and structural change

• Improving the Single Market

• ICT, internet and cross-border sales

• Better and more consistent regulation

• Energy infrastructure and competition

• Internal transport market

• Environmental regulations

• Resource-efficiency and recycling

• Energy and climate

• International market access and global competition

• Access to raw materials

The original industrial policy flagship adopted in October 2010 identified the importance of a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base for the EU economy and set out a strategy for industrial competitiveness, sustainable economic growth and job creation. The review will contain a comprehensive progress report on the implementation of this strategy and its reinforcement.

The public consultation runs until 7th August. A summary report will be published on the public consultation webpage.