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Malta Business Convention launched
by Franco Aloisio
Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday announced that a White Paper on small enterprises will be published later on this year. Dr Fenech Adami was speaking during the launch of the first Malta Business Convention (MBC), organised by the Ministry for Economic Services and the Trade Fair Corporation.
He said that the white paper on small enterprises will focus on the needs of these firms within the context of a new law concerning SMEs which will be passed after due consultation.
Dr Fenech Adami said this White Paper will be third in a series of three White Papers concerning the future of Malta's economy published in these months. The first White Paper to be published was that concerning privatisation, and the other was published towards the end of the year and deals with the industrial development. The latter White Paper will form the basis of the new Industrial Development Act. Furthermore, a business plan based on scientific surveys will have to be drawn up to define the main market priorities.
"The Malta Business Convention kicks off within the context of this wide consultation process. Everyone must be informed about the decisions which will be taken in the coming future," the Prime Minister said.
Dr Fenech Adami stressed the importance of the MBC bringing together the public and private sector under the same roof. The convention will serve to create a debate on the changes which will have to be implemented. He said that small and medium enterprises will have to obtain information on these changes, in order to benefit from the future opportunities.
Also speaking during the launch of MBC, the secretary general of Federation of Industry, Edwin Calleja, said that the government must act as a regulator and safeguard against unfair competition and protect consumers. The government should not be an active player in the economy. He said the government, through various corporations and state-owned companies, controls most of the country's economic activity.
"The private sector has to have a more prominent economic role," Mr Calleja said.
GRTU President Carlo Cini said the governmnet is failing to study the economic impact of EU membership, and is not studying how the SMEs and self employed will be affected by membership. Mr Cini said the GRTU will not accept any situation whereby the self-employed will be badly hit by EU measures.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce John Sullivan, said the country's main focus at present is EU membership, and the future should be based on this target.
The MBC is being held at the Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar and will end on Sunday. During the MBC, the public will be able to meet representatives of banks, corporations, departments and other entities which offer services to businesses.
Three seminars will be held during the MBC, organised by the Economic Services Ministry and the main sponsors, Bank of Valletta and HSBC.
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