Author: SME Chamber

Mr Philip Fenech confirmed as Deputy President and Mr Marcel Mizzi confirmed as Officer.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs held its 78th Annual General Meeting, during which Mr Paul Abela was confirmed as President for the coming year.

During his opening address, President Mr Paul Abela highlighted the Chamber’s achievements throughout 2025, including the organisation of key events, ongoing lobbying efforts and a series of high-level meetings aimed at supporting SMEs.

During the Annual General Meeting, six council members were elected for a three-year term: Mr Sergio Camilleri, Mr Robert Micallef, Mr Dino Fino, Dr James Cassar, Mr Luke Zahra, and Mr John Ellul. The Council is composed of a total of 18 members.

Following Mr Abela’s address, Mr Marcel Mizzi read and the minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting were approved.

Malta Chamber of SMEs COO Mr Andrew Aquilina presented the Annual Report, outlining the main highlights together with Mr Fabian Demicoli, Head of Communication and Business Development, and Mr Jamie Tanti, Head of Policy.

The AGM was held at The Palace, Sliema, with all members of the Malta Chamber of SMEs invited to attend.

As required by statute, the first council meeting was held immediately following the AGM. During this meeting, Mr Paul Abela was confirmed as President for the next year, Mr Philip Fenech was confirmed as Deputy President, and Mr Marcel Mizzi was confirmed as Officer.

Malta Chamber of SMEs COO, Mr Andrew Aquilina, participated in a panel discussion held as part of a three-day initiative organised by the National Skills Council, which brought together representatives from 10 different industry sectors.

The discussions focused on the growing skills misalignment between education and industry, while exploring practical solutions to address this disconnect. Mr Aquilina shared valuable insights from the perspective of SMEs, emphasising the need for stronger collaboration between education providers and industry stakeholders to better reflect labour market realities.

The sessions provided a platform for open dialogue, highlighting key challenges faced by employers and encouraging joint efforts towards more relevant education outcomes.

Council Member Donha Muscat and Head of Policy Jamie Tanti, together with Mr Aquilina, also facilitated various workshops.

Three days of constructive conversations, shared perspectives, and a clear commitment towards tangible outcomes.

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