Author: SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs President, Mr Paul Abela, and COO, Mr Andrew Aquilina, recently held a cordial meeting with H.E. Sandrine Lelong-Motta, Ambassador of France to Malta, alongside Mr Pierric Bonnard, Executive Director of Business France and Ms Lea Bouilhot.

The discussions focused on identifying potential areas of collaboration between the Malta Chamber of SMEs and French business networks, with a particular emphasis on strengthening partnerships between Maltese and French businesses. Both sides explored ways to enhance communication and visibility of opportunities available to Maltese companies in France, aiming to foster trade, investment, and knowledge exchange.

Mr Abela highlighted the importance of international cooperation for the growth of Maltese SMEs, noting that stronger ties with French businesses could open new markets and facilitate mutual learning. Mr Aquilina emphasised the Chamber’s commitment to supporting its members in exploring cross-border opportunities and building strategic relationships.

The meeting marked an important step in reinforcing Malta-France business relations, with both parties agreeing to continue dialogue and explore practical initiatives that could benefit SMEs on both sides.

This engagement reflects the Malta Chamber of SMEs’ ongoing mission to create international opportunities, promote collaboration, and support the sustainable growth of Maltese businesses in global markets.

The European Commission has announced an important development for small businesses across the European Union with the introduction of the new SME VAT Scheme. This initiative establishes a simplified VAT framework designed specifically to reduce administrative burdens for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while creating greater opportunities for cross-border trade within the EU Single Market.

A Simpler VAT Framework for SMEs

The SME VAT Scheme introduces several key benefits aimed at making compliance easier and more efficient for eligible businesses:

• VAT exemptions for qualifying SMEs

• Simplified registration procedures

• Reduced compliance obligations

By streamlining VAT processes, the scheme enables small businesses to focus more on growth and expansion rather than administrative formalities.

Who Can Benefit?

The scheme applies to EU-based small businesses with a total annual turnover across all 27 EU Member States not exceeding €100,000.

To benefit from a VAT exemption in another Member State, businesses must also comply with the national VAT exemption threshold established by that particular country. As thresholds vary between Member States, companies are encouraged to verify the specific requirements applicable in each jurisdiction where they operate or intend to expand.

Practical Tools and Guidance

To support the implementation of the scheme, the European Commission has launched a dedicated SME VAT Portal. The portal provides practical guidance and resources for businesses, including country-specific information on national thresholds and implementation measures.

In addition, an SME VAT eligibility simulator has been introduced to help businesses assess whether they qualify under the new framework, offering clarity and ease of access to relevant information.

For further information or assistance, please contact Xylona Spiteri at

Malta Chamber of SMEs Council Member Greta Rapinett participated in a panel discussion during the conference Beyond Compliance – Towards Elevating Workplace Well-Being in Malta, organised by Occupational Health and Safety Authority in collaboration with Times of Malta.

The event brought together policymakers, employers, and experts to discuss moving beyond legal compliance towards fostering healthier, safer, and more supportive workplace environments across Malta.

Two new online courses focusing on sustainability and environmental responsibility have officially opened for their first intake: Green Public Procurement and Enhancing Sustainable Building Practices.

These courses come at a crucial time, as sustainability continues to move to the forefront of policy, business strategy, and operational decision-making across sectors.

Green Public Procurement

The Green Public Procurement course is designed to help participants integrate environmental considerations into public procurement processes. It provides a comprehensive overview of:

• Sustainable purchasing principles

• Lifecycle costing

• EU policy frameworks

• Practical strategies to support greener public sector decision-making

This course is particularly relevant for public officials, procurement professionals, and organisations seeking to align their purchasing practices with sustainability goals.

Further details, including the course schedule, are available here:
https://jobsplus.gov.mt/jobseeker-courses/course-details-jobseeker?id=5386

Enhancing Sustainable Building Practices

The Enhancing Sustainable Building Practices course focuses on sustainable construction methods and environmentally responsible design. Participants will explore:

• Energy-efficient building design

• Sustainable material selection

• Regulatory frameworks

• Best practices aligned with current sustainability standards

The course aims to support professionals in the construction and building sectors in adopting practices that reduce environmental impact while meeting evolving regulatory and market expectations.

More information, including the course schedule, can be accessed here:
https://jobsplus.gov.mt/jobseeker-courses/course-details-jobseeker?id=5445

Stakeholders and organisations are encouraged to share this information with their members and networks to promote wider participation in these timely and impactful training opportunities.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with ERA – Environment & Resources Authority, organised a consultation session on the Extended Producer Responsibility (Non‑Packaging Paper) Regulations, which is a draft Legal Notice under the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549). The purpose of this draft Legal Notice is to extend the EPR framework to non-packaging paper, placing clear obligations on producers to finance and organise the collection and proper management of these waste streams.

Malta Enterprise is organising an upcoming training session aimed at supporting Maltese startups and SMEs in strengthening their intellectual property (IP) protection strategies as they expand beyond the European Union.

Held in collaboration with the Commerce Department (Industrial Property Registrations Directorate) and the Latin America & India IP SME Helpdesks, the session will provide practical guidance on trademark registration, patent and design protection, available financial support schemes, and key considerations when entering markets such as India and Latin America.

This initiative offers valuable insight for businesses looking to safeguard their innovations and brands while exploring new international opportunities.

More information and registration details are available here:
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/intellectual-property

The Malta Chamber of SMEs, in collaboration with the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), and with the participation of Identità and Jobsplus, organised a well-attended webinar addressing the latest updates on the recruitment of Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), including developments related to SkillsPass 2.

The webinar attracted over 185 participants, reflecting the strong interest among employers and stakeholders in understanding recent regulatory changes and procedural updates impacting the engagement of foreign workers.

During the session, representatives from ITS, Identità and Jobsplus provided detailed insights into the revised processes, compliance requirements and the implementation of SkillsPass 2. Participants were guided through key updates affecting recruitment procedures, documentation and employer obligations, with practical clarifications aimed at supporting businesses in navigating the evolving framework.

The interactive format allowed attendees to raise questions and engage directly with the respective authorities, ensuring greater clarity and transparency on the subject.

Through initiatives such as this, the Malta Chamber of SMEs continues to support its members by facilitating access to timely information and fostering constructive dialogue between businesses and public entities.