Author: SME Chamber

On the occasion of the Consumer Day, which in Europe this year is dedicated to "sustainable consumption in a time of crises", in Malta the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) prefers to steer away from sustainability and insists on its never ending patronisation of consumer affairs.

In a day long conference marking European Consumer Day as a Europe-wide event in Copenhagen nowhere during the excellent speeches of Commissioners, European Consumer Representatives and other distinguished guests was any reference made to the stagnant and ancient practices we see in Malta. In Malta our authorities still speak in terms of price fixing, watchdog on retailers and consumer affairs patronisation. The conference emphasised on moving the focus away from pricing to quality, flexibility, innovation, and sustainability. It focused on moving away from the perception of consumers as passive buyers and empower them to act as confident and assertive market players.

Government is in itself a major player as the largest service provider and is therefore subject to a lot of reactions from consumers. Government institutions should however be of a regulatory nature. It is most unfair that Government gives the impression that consumer affairs issues are all related to private business matters and indeed increasingly takes an anti-business approach, as is clearly the attitude of MCCAA on most issues.

MCCAA is acting with a strong bias against retailers and business in general and hardly ever does it offer services or support to retailers as it perceives itself as a consumer affairs institution. Now MCCAA is going even further by publishing a Consumer Affairs magazine, a role which squarely belongs to private independent consumer associations who have freedom to analyse all consumer affairs issues.

GRTU believes that the competitive structure of the Maltese market still suffers from a number of uncompetitive restrictive practices that negatively effect small enterprises. It would make more sense for MCCAA to hold more consultations and take an active role as a Competition Authority. Being a Competition Authority MCCAA should study and act on the identification and eradication of the bottlenecks that keep excessively high costs in practice in various stages of the supply chain and that eventually end as higher prices to consumers. The reality is that MCCAA functions for consumers while where retailing is concerned it leaves much to be desired.

"Most of these bottlenecks and excessive costs are imposed by state owned authorities that operate on cost-plus system of pricing, irrespective of the damage they inflict on Malta's competitive supply structure. Yet MCCAA continues to act regardless of what the real needs are, does not consult or rarely does, the private sector not even on issues under discussion at EU level and continues to dedicate most of its actions and resources in populist rather than constructive actions in support of a really competitive restructuring of the local market as a functional part of the European single internal market". stated Vincent Farrugia GRTU Director General and member of European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Single Market Production and Consumption Section (INT) bureau as well as the Internal Market and Consumer Affairs Committee of EuroCommerce, representing retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe.

GRTU's Director General Vincent Farrugia as EESC member participated in the conference in Copenhagen as the official event marking this year's European Consumer Day. The European Consumer Day celebrated Sustainable consumption in a time of crises, a theme that in Malta has not been followed.

South America is, indeed, an important market where Europe can export its goods and services and the EU is still the main investor. With a combined population of more than 700 million people, high combined GDP and bi-regional trade close to €100 billion annually, closer trade relations with the EU would generate reciprocal advantages and positive spill-over at global level. Maltese Enterprises can also benefit from the strong growth in the region.

Countries visited will be: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.

Key industrial sectors to target during these visits should be:

• Green economy
• Biotechnology
• key enabling technologies
• mining
• construction
• shipbuilding
• tourism

 

 

 

 

Any sectors are however welcome. Contact Abigail at GRTU to acquire further details.

Il-Malta-EU Steering & Action Committee (MEUSAC) flimkien mal-Ministeru għat-Turiżmu, il-Kultura, u l-Ambjent se jorganizza laqgħa ta' konsultazzjoni dwar il-White Paper għall-prevenzjoni, it-tnaqqis u l-kontroll tal-ħsejjes. Din il-White Paper tevalwa kull xorta ta' ħsejjes li bħalissa huma regolati permezz ta' liġijiet differenti. Dan jinkludi, fost l-oħrajn, ħsejjes minn trasport bl-art, bil-baħar u bl-ajru, ħsejjes mill-kostruzzjoni u attivitajiet industrijali, storbju fuq il-post tax-xogħol, minn postijiet ta' divertiment u minn avvenimenti ta' darba bħalma huma kunċerti.

Il-hsejjes, meta huma qawwijin jsiru storbju u dawn jistghu jkunu ta` periklu ghas sahha, kwistjoni ta sigurta' fuq il-post tax-xoghol u inkonvenjent. Barra minn hekk jista` jkollhom effett negattiv fuq l-ambjent. Madwar terz tas-sottomissjonijiet li saru fil-process ta konsultazzjoni ghat-tfassil tal-Politika Nazzjonali tal-Ambjent semmew l-istorbju bhala fattur ambjentali importanti. L-istorbju huwa kkawzat minn diversi fatturi fosthom it-traffiku, l-attivita industrijali, l-attivita ta kostruzzjoni, il-postijiet ta divertiment, l-ajruplani, l-apparat domestiku u kummercjali u l-attivita minn festi u attivitajiet tradizzjonali kif ukoll minn nhar pirotekniku (fireworks).

L-istorbju eccessiv ghandu effett ukoll fuq is-sahha tal-bniedem u allura fuq il-kwalita tal-hajja taghna, jista jinterferrixxi b'rabta ma mizuri ta sahha u sigurta fuq il-post tax-xoghol u johloq inkonvenjent. Jaffetwa wkoll l-istat ta l-ambjent taghna, partikolarment is-sahha tal-bijodiversita u eko sistemi. Tabilhaqq storbju eccessiv huwa forma ta 'tniggis ambjentali, u ghandha tkun trattata bhala tali. Dan huwa ghalhekk sinjal li dan il-fatt jehtieg li jigi indirizzat permezz ta tfassil ta policies, ligijiet, infruzar u aktar edukazzjoni.

L-għan ta' din il-‘White Paper' huwa li tippreżenta r-riżultati mill-valutazzjoni li sar f'isem il-Ministeru għat-Turizmu, Kultura u l-Ambjent bil-għan li ssir analiżi talaspetti istituzzjonali, regolatorji u legali marbuta mal-kontroll ta forom varji ta' ħoss. L-għan ta' din l-White Paper huwa li tistimola dibattitu pubbliku u li jiġu esplorati firxa ta' għażliet strateġiċi biex b'hekk jittejjeb il-qafas istituzzjonali u legali ta' pajjiżna.

Il-laqgħa ser issir bil-Malti nhar l-Erbgħa, 28 ta' Marzu 2012, fit-3.00 p.m., f'Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi, il-Belt Valletta. 

Biex tirreġistra ikteb lil .

Why did you become an entrepreneur? I used to be employed, I took quite a bit of time to start my own business. I started from nothing and many people discouraged me but I proved successful.

How have you come to chose your line of business?

My line of business has in reality always been my hobby since I was a nine year old boy. It is something I think I know how to do and best of all enjoy doing.

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Paris. The thing that impressed me most having a direct interest in art was Les Invalid, Napoleon's tomb and museum. I was also impressed by the beauty of the city.

What is your earliest memory?

My father was carrying me on his shoulders, I was 3 years old, when my younger sister was born. We were in front of the entrance to the hospital and I remember him telling me "look there's your mother with the baby girt, wave at her"

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

Julius Ceaser as whatever he put in mind to do, no matter the immense odds he faced, he managed to do. He is a person I admire and I wish I had more of his trait.

 

The topic will be the Executive Training Programme and EU Gateway Programme designed to assist companies who wish to do business with the Japanese and South Korean markets.  These are markets which have great potential but are somewhat difficult to access due to logistics and cultural differences.

The Executive Training Programme provides up to 45-week training course in Japan or Korea, including an internship in a local company that will enhance your business prospects in these countries.

The EU Gateway Programme organises and funds Business Missions in high technology and design sectors for European companies to develop their business in Japan and Korea by offering financial and logistical support, strategic preparation and a tailored search for business contacts.

Date:               11^th April 2012 at 0830hrs

Venue:            Le Meridien Hotel, St. Julians

The Info session shall be delivered by Mr. Alvaro Biel Turon of the Madrid Office in charge of said programmes.

Further information about the programmes may be accessed here:

http://www.eu-gateway.eu/go.php?nID=22&page=Home

http://www.euetp.eu/

Interested parties are to contact the Enterprise Europe Network Unit on or tel: 25423418

 

 

Malta Enterprise is inviting businesses wishing to explore business opportunities in Italy to participate in an Investment and Trade Promotion delegation to Milan, between the 21^st and 24^th of May, 2012.

Companies from the following sectors are encouraged to apply: mechanical and precision engineering, ICT and electronics, alternative energy, financial and professional services, education and training, and MICE.

Eligible enterprises include:

1. Manufacturers
2. Service providers
3. Licensing and Franchising
4. Companies seeking joint ventures and strategic alliances
5. Technology Transfer
6. Companies seeking R&D opportunities

 

 

 

Companies seeking to import finished products are NOT eligible.

As part of its assistance Malta Enterprise will endeavour to set-up one-to-one meetings for participants through its institutional networks. Malta Enterprise will also refund eligible participants up to 60% of flight costs and a per diem allowance. Refund is for one representative per participating company

Application forms together with a €250 deposit should be sent to us by not later than Wednesday  28^th March, 2012. This deposit will be fully refunded together with the financial assistance referred to above after the event. In cases where a company cancels its participation, any cancellation costs incurred by Malta Enterprise on behalf of the company will be deducted from this deposit.

 

Should you require further details contact Abigail @ GRTU.

Green MT has applied for a permit to operate a Batteries and Accumulators Compliance Scheme. Importers (Producers) are invited to attend this important meeting.

A meeting is being organized on:

 Date: Thursday, 22nd March 2012

Time: 3.00pm

Place: GRTU Offices,

Exchange Building, Republic Str.,

Valletta

Subject  Batteries and Accumulators Scheme

GRTU President Paul Abela wrote to all elected Mayors congratulating them on their election and the election of the other councillors.As the Local Councils Association can confirm, GRTU is working hand in hand both with the Association and with individual Local Councils on a number of projects and schemes for the mutual benefit of Local Councils, residents and the business community.

GRTU told the mayor it is confident that this spirit of co-operation will be enhanced through the welcome co-operation of each mayor.

GRTU will be contacting the Local Councils shortly to set up an introductory meeting which should pave the way for smooth cooperation in the coming years.

GRTU has this week met a small delegation from Montenegro. The last time GRTU representatives visited Montenegro was in June 2007 as part of an official delegation to Setinye. The delegation from Montenegro mentioned that they should shortly join the EU and as such Montenegro has to adopt the EU acquis communautaire. GRTU President Paul Abela told the Montenegrin experience of joining the EU.

They were especially interested in knowing what the business community thought, how they were affected by EU membership, the derogations and exemptions of Malta from certain EU regulations.

They also were interested in the involvement of social partners in the negotiations. GRTU explained the various incentives and schemes for businesses which are currently in place with the support of EU funds.

GRTU also mentioned that GRTU has nothing against Montenegro joining the EU and is available to provide support in the process. In addition to this GRTU had also signed a bi-lateral agreement for cooperation with the Employers Federation in Montenegro that provides support to Maltese and Montenegrin businesses when they are visiting the country.