Category: Articles

Malta chamber of SMEs partners, Trust Payments and APS Bank on Thursday announced a new partnership.

APS bank business customers will now be able to accept card payments through a POS terminal and other forms of electronic payments, with the funds being deposited into their APS Bank account.

APS bank customers can also benefit from Trust Payments’ innovative eCommerce platform which equips merchants with easy-to-use tools to build, scale and sell online.

Mr Steve Grech, CEO of Trust Payments Malta, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to work together with APS Bank, a reputable long-established and fast-growing local bank, to help their business customers to access acquiring and eCommerce services and solutions quickly and easily.”

Mr Anthony Buttigieg, Chief Banking Officer at APS Bank, added: “We are constantly working to continue improving our service for business customers. We have decided to partner up with Trust Payments as our merchant services provider, because of their trusted, well established and easy to use service, account management and around the clock technical support.”

Malta Chamber of SME and Trust Payments partnered over a year ago and through this partnership, Trust Payments offer a competitive card payments charges for the SME Chamber members.

Businesses are encouraged to check this out to see how much their business will save as from day one.  If you wish further details kindly send an email on andrew.aquilina@smechamber.mt or call +356 21232881.

QFZ is dedicated to providing companies in the free zones—or considering opening operations in Qatar’s free zones

Malta’s Ambassador in Qatar have recently met with H.E. Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Free Zone. In this meeting it was agreed to strengthen the cordial relations between our two countries, especially enhancing bilateral ties in trade in addition to possibly attracting Maltese investment to the Free Zones in Qatar.

The Qatar Free Zone (QFZ) is run within the structure of a business-friendly regulatory environment, with a legal system based on common law and backed by strong IP and data protection regulation. The government has recently set new laws and regulations to continue liberalizing the economy and encouraging investment, while strong institutions ensure investors are able to take best advantage of this environment. Additionally, the government has taken major reforms to support attraction of FDI to the country and recently established the Investment Promotions Agency (IPAQ) to promote Qatar as a preferred destination location for foreign direct investment.

QFZ is dedicated to providing companies in the free zones—or considering opening operations in Qatar’s free zones—with top-of-the-line services and opportunities, including brand-new infrastructure, tax exemptions, partnership opportunities with Qatari entities, access to investment funds for eligible companies and a wide range of land plots including different building options in both zones to meet all needs.

Unlike many free zone developers, QFZA oversees Qatar’s free zones as an independent regulatory body, providing a one-stop shop for the entire set-up and management process.

If you’re interested in the Qatar Free Zone kindly contact us by email on ">admin@smechamber.mt

Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Ms Abigail agius Mamo participated during one of JCI Malta Change Politics online event, entitle “I’m not your party favour”

During this virtual event, the panellists discussed political favours and clientelism.

CEO Abigail Agius Mamo emphasised that the Chamber of SMEs is against and works against favouritism. The laws and opportunities must be equal and accessible to all in the same manner. One favour means everyone else is left at a disadvantage. This creates unfair competition and an unjust economy and society.

This regulation starts from the 21st of May 2022

Transport Malta announced that the international carriage of goods by road using Light Commercial Vehicles with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 2,500kgs but not exceeding 3,500kgs within the European Union will start to be regulated as from the 21st of May 2022.

This change was introduced by Regulation (EU) No. 2020/1055 which forms part of a set of changes to the Road Transport market referred to as Mobility Package I.

As from 21st May 2022, any undertaking that uses LCVs to carry goods for hire or reward between Member States of the EU need to hold a Road Haulage Operator Licence. This is the same type of licence which currently applies to the carriage of goods by road using heavy goods vehicles. More information about this licence can be found here.

Transport Malta invites undertakings – sole traders, companies or other businesses – who use LCVs to carry goods between Malta and any other EU Member State, or between other EU Member States, to apply for such licence.

Undertakings who fail to obtain such a licence will not be able to continue their operations beyond the above-mentioned date.

In order to do so, you are invited to contact the Road Transport Licensing Unit by:

Visiting at Transport Malta’s offices, from Monday to Friday between 07:30 and 14:00 (kindly call before for an appointment), at:

Level 0, A3 Towers, Triq l-Arkata, Paola.

Phone on: Freephone: 80072393 (from landline only); Direct: 25555190

Email via: ">rtlu.tm@transport.gov.mt; ">lynton.ellul@transport.gov.mt

Malta Enterprise offers 3 schemes related to sustainability

The Malta Chamber of SMEs in collaboration with GEMMA, will be organising a second masterclass for businesses’ specifically dedicated on Financial literacy and Financial Capability. 

Recently, MBR published a notice on the changes coming into force through amendments to the company Act.

The Registrar of Companies are reminding business owners that some of the Amendments to the Companies Act (Act LX of 2021) are in force, primarily the provisions related to the use of digital tools and processes as well as the appointment and the holding of the office of directors. 

More specifically, the following have been highlighted:

• Contents of the memorandum and articles of the Company (Article 69)

• Appointment of Directors (Article 139)

• Statutory company directorship reporting requirements (Form K & Form K(1)

• Disqualification of Directors (Articles 140 & 142); and

• Legislative Powers of the Registrar (Article 401)

Further detailed information can be obtained from the notice issued by the Malta Business Registry at https://mbr.mt/2022/01/28/legislative-amendments-introduced-by-act-lx-of-2021/ and in the case of difficulty you can contact MBR’s Legal and Enforcement Unit on legal.enforcement@mbr.mt.

The SME Chamber looks forward to see the cooperation between both sides increase