Small Business Efficiency Unit aimed at reducing bureaucracy
by Anthony Manduca
The setting up of the Small Business Efficiency Unit, the brainchild of Edwin Vassallo, the parliamentary secretary responsible for the self-employed, is aimed at eliminating as much bureaucracy as possible from the every day life of small businessmen. It is no secret that Mr Vassallo is feeling frustrated at the way the small business sector is being treated by the civil service and the public sector in general, and he wants to make things as smooth as possible for entrepreneurship in Malta to thrive among the self-employed.
Last Monday, Mr Vassallo spoke during Parliament's adjournment on the need to reduce excessive bureaucracy on SMEs and he pointed out that the self-employed sector should be encouraged to develop its potential to the maximum.
Mr Vassallo also called on the bureaucracy to change its mentality and to become more efficient and business friendly. The idea of a Small Business Efficiency Unit is to set up a one-stop shop under one roof to serve the business community.
Any complaint a business executive may have about the way he has been treated by the public sector may be channelled through the Unit, which is based at the Ministry for Economic Services, which will then follow up the complaint with the competent authorities.
Officially the Small Business Unit has been set up with these aims:
To complement the existing
services already provided by other entities, and to facilitate any business entrepreneurs have with these entities.
To achieve synergy between the service providers.
To identify trends or patterns that hinder the rendering of efficient
services required by small business.
To assist in proposing amendments to regulation that affects business practice, leading to simplified and "business-friendly" legislation and procedures.
To become the leading centre of knowledge and expertise on small business, and to pass on this knowledge to all those concerned with helping small business prosper.
To promote and cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship within society.
To coordinate the Local Commercial Policy with the local councils.
A Small Business Efficiency Unit brochure about to be mailed to the self-employed states: "We serve the best interests of small business and the self-employed, helping them to flourish.
"This prosperity will entail the creation of new opportunities for employment and generate wealth within society. Hence, our mission statement is: creating jobs by enabling small business to prosper."
Wishful thinking? We shall have to wait and see.
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