Malta Chamber of SMEs

Press Release: Malta Chamber of SMEs congratulates Dr Robert Abela & the new Government following the general election

Posted on 01.06.2026 by SME Chamber

Following last Saturday’s election and today’s swearing-in of Dr Robert Abela as Prime Minister of Malta, the Malta Chamber of SMEs extends its congratulations and looks forward to continuing to work closely with the whole Government throughout the new legislature.

Over the past years, Prime Minister Robert Abela and his cabinet have maintained an open channel of communication with the Malta Chamber of SMEs, strengthening constructive dialogue on matters affecting the business community. The Malta Chamber of SMEs augers that this open dialogue remains throughout this upcoming legislature.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs also congratulates all Members of Parliament elected to both the Government and the Opposition and looks forward to maintaining an open and constructive channel of discussion with all sides of the House in the interests of Malta’s SMEs and the wider economy.

Press Release: Malta Chamber of SMEs Warns Against Unsustainable Electoral Pledges

Posted on 03.05.202603.05.2026 by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs calls on the political parties to exercise caution in regards to the increasing number of electoral promises being announced without any form of prior consultation with social partners, and which would directly impact employers and businesses.

Such measures, without proper consultation, affect the business community and would especially and disproportionately affect micro and small enterprises, which make up the absolute majority of businesses in Malta.

While we recognise that electoral campaigns generate considerable enthusiasm and at times, overly ambitious pledges, we cannot remain passive when such promises have a direct impact on the livelihoods of small businesses and their employees.

Social partners expect to be consulted in advance, on any proposed incentives that may affect SMEs, in line with established practices over the years.

We are concerned that several of these proposals do little to enhance productivity and address the labour shortage, which when implemented through a blanket approach, may prove unsustainable in practice and have repercussions on both businesses and the business community.

The SME Chamber calls for greater maturity and responsibility in public commitments, ensuring that proposals are grounded in proper feasibility assessments rather than driven solely by electoral promises.

Moreover, even measures that do not directly target the small business community can have wider economic repercussions, including possibly reducing investor confidence.

The SME Chamber is currently working on a number of constructive proposals and remains committed to engage with all stakeholders.

The SME Chamber looks forward to seeing proposals targeted at SMEs that genuinely drive productivity and safeguard the wellbeing of employers and their employees.

We welcome discussion on solutions that support sustainable economic growth while effectively addressing the realities faced by Malta’s SMEs

Joint Press Release: SME Chamber and other employers’ associations within MCESD call for immediate withdrawal of ARUC sponsorship of children’s football programme

Posted on 31.03.202631.03.2026 by SME Chamber

Employers’ Associations within MCESD – the Malta Employers, the Malta Chamber, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, and the Malta Chamber of SMSs – call for immediate withdrawal of ARUC sponsorship of children’s football programme.

The employers’ associations within MCESD strongly condemn the decision to associate a children’s football programme with the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis.

This is a serious error of judgment. Children’s sport must represent discipline, health, self-control, ambition and clean living. It must never, under any circumstances, be linked to cannabis or to any authority associated with its use.

Whether direct or indirect, the message is wrong, confusing and unacceptable. No social objective can justify blurring the line between youth development and substances that should never be normalized in the minds of children. Sport must inspire young people to choose healthy lifestyles, not create associations that risk weakening that message.

For years, society worked hard to remove cigarettes and alcohol from sport because the principle was clear: harmful substances have no place in an environment meant to shape children’s values and aspirations. The same principle must apply here. There can be no double standards. Cannabis is not a symbol of health, discipline or performance. Football is. The two should never be placed in the same space, especially where children are involved.

This sponsorship should be dismantled immediately and replaced by support from entities that reflect the true values of youth sport and responsible social leadership. Children deserve better. Parents deserve clarity. Sport deserves to remain clean.

Press Release: BLACK FRIDAY 2025: Businesses indicate positive results

Posted on 01.12.202501.12.2025 by SME Chamber

Feedback received so far by the Malta Chamber of SMEs on this year’s Black Friday indicates a positive outcome, with results comparable to last year’s performance. While several businesses recorded similar results or a slight increase over the previous year, a few experienced a slight decline. Performance also varied by location, with some areas facing particular challenges.

Weather conditions affected customer turnout in certain localities; however, the month-long promotions and busniesses that offered products or services online saw steady sales despite the bad weather. Meanwhile, shopping malls across Malta and Gozo experienced strong footfall and steady sales.

Sectors traditionally associated with Black Friday, such as electronics, white goods, and homeware, along with those that invested in marketing campaigns, reported a positive performance.

Many businesses are now looking ahead to Saturday and Sunday, with most stores expected to maintain their Black Friday offers.

Press Release: SME Chamber welcomes the 2026 Budget and a number of its proposals supporting SMEs

Posted on 27.10.202529.10.2025 by SME Chamber

Following the Budget speech, the SME Chamber welcomes the 2026 Budget which will assist SMEs to grow and remain competitive. Initiatives such as the improvement of the Micro Invest Scheme, the increased support for digitalisation and the incentive to invest in R&D are among the measures that will help businesses strengthen and expand.

The SME Chamber notes that a number of its proposals were taken up by the Government and acknowledges that, in preparation for this Budget, the Government, particularly the Minister for Finance organised several consultation meetings with the SME Chamber.

The SME Chamber’s proposals were developed using insights from the quarterly SME Barometer, which consistently gathers feedback from businesses, as well as input from members and targeted focus group discussions. The SME Chamber urges the Government to continue addressing the issues highlighted by businesses in the SME Barometer over the past months, including employee shortages, unfair competition, good governance, and traffic congestion.

SME BAROMETER Q3 2025 – SME confidence rises amid persistent challenges

Posted on 23.10.202529.10.2025 by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs, in collaboration with MISCO, has published the results of the latest SME Barometer (Q3 2025) survey. The study was conducted among 456 businesses between the 6th and 16th of October 2025.

When asked about the most pressing issues affecting their businesses, respondents identified employee shortages as the top concern (46%), followed by unfair competition (23%) and excessive competition (17%). Other key challenges cited include traffic congestion and skills mismatches.

At a national level, overpopulation (36%) remained the most significant concern for SMEs. Other ongoing worries include the lack of good governance (31%) and corruption (26%), while safeguarding quality of life saw a notable increase in importance, rising from 15% in Q2 to 23% in Q3, making it the fourth most frequently mentioned issue.

Business sentiment showed a slight improvement compared to previous quarters; however, 66% of respondents still feel that Malta is moving in the wrong direction. A slightly larger proportion of businesses expressed optimism about the next 12 months compared to Q2.

A special section of the survey focusing on digital transformation revealed that a strong 77% of SMEs recognise the importance of digitalisation for future growth. Among them, 51% are actively investing in digital tools, while 26% acknowledge its importance but struggle with implementation.

The SME Chamber urged the Government to expand financial incentives, such as grants and tax credits to support wider digital adoption.

The SME Chamber recommends increased support for micro and small businesses, including:

Enhanced Micro-Invest support, raising aid intensity for micro-enterprises from 45% to 65%, and increasing the credit cap for small enterprises from €50,000 to €70,000.
An additional €20,000 digitalisation capping for businesses adopting digital invoicing ahead of 2030.
Stronger transparency and anti-corruption measures to rebuild institutional trust.
Streamlined regulatory processes to reduce bureaucracy and duplication.
The establishment of a centralised advisory platform to help SMEs access green and digital financing opportunities.

SME Chamber President Mr. Paul Abela stated that “SMEs continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptability, but they need clarity, consistency, and fairness from institutions.”

SME Chamber COO Mr. Andrew Aquilina emphasised the need for Budget 2026 to strengthen support for micro and small businesses, and to enhance schemes and incentives that have historically provided critical assistance to these enterprises.

The SME Barometer Survey is a collaborative initiative between the Malta Chamber of SMEs and MISCO.

Click here to download full results.

Press Release: Malta Chamber of SMEs welcomes launch of direct flights to New York

Posted on 17.09.2025 by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs welcomes the positive news that direct flights between Malta International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will commence in June, operated by Delta Air Lines.

This is a major development for Malta and its international connectivity. The United States remains an important market from which Malta can continue to benefit, both in tourism and business opportunities.

The SME Chamber congratulates Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Mr. Carlo Micallef, Malta Tourism Authority Deputy CEO amd Chief Officer Strategy Mr Leslie Vella and all stakeholders involved in successfully securing this highly significant route.

The SME Chamber hopes that this new route marks the beginning of a series of successes for the future of Malta’s tourism sector. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Ministry and the MTA to further strengthen the sector.

Press Release: The Malta Chamber of SMEs congratulates Dr Alex Borg on his Election as Leader of the Nationalist Party

Posted on 07.09.202507.09.2025 by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs congratulates Dr Alex Borg on his election as Leader of the Nationalist Party. The SME Chamber emphasises that a strong and effective opposition is fundamental to the proper functioning of a healthy democracy.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs looks forward to meeting Dr Borg in his new capacity as Leader of the Nationalist party and eventually Opposition Leader. The Malta Chamber of SMEs also looks forward to holding meetings with the Opposition to present and discuss its proposals for the 2026 Budget.

Furthermore, the SME Chamber expresses its gratitude to Dr Bernard Grech for his commitment and service over the past years.

PRESS RELEASE: Malta Chamber of SMEs Back Government-Church Affordable Housing Scheme After Concerns Addressed

Posted on 23.08.202525.08.2025 by SME Chamber

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has expressed its support for the affordable housing initiative jointly launched by the Government and the Church, following a detailed review that addressed initial concerns raised by the SME Chamber.

Although The SME Chamber acknowledges the existing gap in the market present when it comes to enabling lower-middle-income families to become homeowners, the Malta Chamber of SMEs had initially raised concerns that this scheme might open room for potential abuse, inefficiencies or free market interference.

To address these concerns, the SME Chamber held separate meetings with the Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, Hon. Rodrick Galdes, as well as with the Foundation for Affordable Housing.

Following these discussions, the SME Chamber was given the necessary assurance that the governance aspect as well as market stability will be maintained through a fair and transparent mechanism, implemented to manage the scheme to minimise concerns raised.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs therefore supports the initiative and encourages the continued implementation of strict safeguards and transparency to ensure the intended households benefit fully from the scheme. The SME Chamber will continue holding discussions with the necessary stakeholders to ensure that the scheme remains aligned with its objectives, maintains transparency, and effectively addresses the needs of lower-middle-income families.