Category: Archive – 2012

Saudi Arabia's supreme council has formally approved a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Malta for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion concerning tax on income.

The Council-also known as the Majlis Al-Shura-met last Monday in Riyadh, and approved the treaty signed with Malta last January.

It is understood that the treaty provisions are based on the articles of the OECD model tax convention. The Malta-Saudi Arabia treaty will enter into force once ratification procedures applicable in both jurisdictions are completed. Malta signed a ‘Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation' with Saudi Arabia during bilateral talks held by Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and his counterpart in Riyadh in January.

Saudi Arabia is the largest member of the Gulf Cooperation Council with the most power and oil-based economy. The agreement should significantly boost bi-lateral trade and investment flows.

 

The meeting held today with the Contracts Department was called by GRTU following complaints we received from our members.
Graphic Designers cannot bid due to high thresholds – GRTU was approached by self-employed graphic designers complaining of a clause in a tender document they were interested to apply for: "The maximum amount of sub-contracting must not exceed 40 % of the total contract value. The main contractor must have the ability to carry out at least 60 % of the contract works by his own means."

 

This, GRTU argued, is prohibitive and heavily limits the participation of such micro service providers and self-employed because while being able to fulfill an important part of the tender requirements, their share still constitutes much less than the 60%. GRTU spoke especially for those micro and self-employed enterprises who's main operation relies most especially on their artistic ability and do not have the capital to invest in materials of production such as printing machinery.

In most cases the price of the art is much lower than the actual production, as such the 40% limit of the total contract value is prohibitive to the graphic designer, who is still able to deliver a finished product instead of submitting his own quotation.

The Contracts Department explained that they do see GRTU's point. They said that these specifications are not standard and are included by the body issuing the tender as it deems fit, and in other cases such clauses do make sense. The Contracts Department also explained that in any case if an interested bidder feels there is lack of fairness or transparency the bidder can ask for clarification and argue their case.

The contacts department however also confirmed that such thresholds are prohibitive to the participation of independent graphic designers and therefore they will guide the bodies issuing tenders in a way not to prohibit such bidders from participating. GRTU was pleased with this arrangement.

Sub-contracting to self-employed

The second point raised by GRTU was related to the "Statement on Conditions of Employment" accompanying a tender. The paper stated that "Tenderers are to ensure that self-employed personnel are not engaged on this contract. Non-compliance will invalidate the contact". GRTU members interpreted this as meaning that they cannot sub-contract to self-employed individuals and therefore felt they were unable to bid for the tender because they can supply materials but they must sub-contract to self-employed individuals to carry out the works. The Contracts Department clarified that the case GRTU is putting forward was not of engagement of self-employed but sub-contracting. Therefore there was no issue.

Compliance with Environmental laws

The last point presented by GRTU was that the Contracts Department ensured that bidders being awarded a contract were complaint with VAT regulations and any other regulations which ensured that only those abiding to Maltese Law were awarded tenders and therefore ensuring a level playing field. The GRTU however informed the Contracts Department that enterprises today are also abiding to very costly environmental obligations which also should be taken into consideration when awarding tenders.

The price put forward by a bidder who abides with his environmental obligations is certainly less than the price of a bidder who doesn't. Compliance with the Waste Packaging Directive by all importers is imperative under Maltese Law, therefore awarding contracts also to non-complaint enterprises does create an unlevel playing field and does encourage non compliance since the bidding price will be inevitably lower.

The Contracts Department immediately assured the GRTU that in no way is their intention to encourage non-compliance and therefore will immediately initiate talks with other Government Departments to see how this objective can be achieved. They explained this would probably be included as a clause in the tender document but discussions would have to be carried out to assess any impact this might have. GRTU was also pleased with this arrangement.

Thursday 19th April – 14.00hrs – GRTU – The excellent relations between Malta and Libya were further cemented last week when GRTU signed a Bilateral Agreement with the Misurata Chamber of Commerce in Misurata. The agreement makes it possible for members of both the Misurata and the Maltese businesses members of GRTU to "feel at home" when visiting Libya and Malta. As such, a Misurata Chamber member will be entitled to all the benefits that a GRTU member has in Malta and Vice Versa.

 

This will mean that companies wishing to invest in both Malta and Libya will have their processes facilitated by both organisations. A programme of cultural and trade visits is currently being organised.

With a particular focus on ports and maritime services, manufacturing, food industry and Construction, GRTU will help companies explore business and investment opportunities in post-war Libya. As such, GRTU members interested in this are invited to attend an informal seminar at the GRTU offices in order to set up a GRTU Libya committee to start organising the first GRTU visit and one-to-one meetings with Libyan companies.

If interested to attend kindly contact Abigail Mamo at GRTU on or 21 232 881.

Fl-Laqgha kordjali li saret din l-Gimgha mas-Sindku u rapprezentanti tal-Kunsill ta' M'Xlokk u sidien ta' restoranti, il-GRTU, fakkret fid-diversi laqghat li saru dawn l-ahhar snin bejn l-Kunsill u l-GRTU sabiex jintlahaq l-ahjar arrangament bejn dawk kollha involuti fosthom: l-bejjiegha tal-monti, s-sajjieda, s-sidien tar-restoranti kif ukoll ir-residenti. Giet diskussa fid-dettal l-master plan li giet pprezentata mill-Lands lill-MEPA. Ovja l-problemi ma jonqsux, izda l-GRTU tibqa' l-medjatur sabiex ghan-nom tal-membri taghha flimkien mall-Kunsill, Awtoritajiet u dawk kollha nvoluti jinstab kunsens sabiex titnaqqas kull forma ta' burokrazija.

 

 

 

 

Il-GRTU talbet li jsiru xi alterazzjonijiet zghar fosthom l-posti ta' l-imwejjed u s-siggijiet u tigi mmarkata l-area ta' fejn qieghed jarma l-monti illum atar fid-dettal. Kemm l-GRTU kif ukoll l-Kunsill qablu li minghajr aktar dewmien, jintlahaq arrangament mas-sidien tal-Monti li jarma kuljum. Kif qieghed jarma llum, il-Monti qieghed ikun ta' detriment ghas-sidien tar-restoranti li qed jispiccaw bil-monti quddiemhom mit-Tnejn sal-Hadd, il-gurnata kollha sa ma jidlam. Dan qieghed johloq ukoll inkonvenjent sostanzjali ghal kull min izur Marsaxlokk dovut ghat-traffiku u n-nuqqas ta' parkegg. L-GRTU qeghda titlob sabiex tittiehed decizjoni finali mill-aktar fis sabiex jigi identifikat l-ahjar post sabiex jopera l-Monti. Il-Monti tal-Hadd ser jibqa jopera kif qieghed fil-prezent. Il-GRTU rringrazjat lill-Kunsill ghal kooperazzjoni shiha, u talbitu s-support f'decizjoni li tkun prattika, ekkwa u gusta fl-iqsar zmien possibbli.

Saret laqgha ghas-sidien tal-Kiosks barra Bieb l-Belt ftit tal-gimghat ilu wara diversi laqghat ohra li l-GRTU ghan nom tal-operaturi kellha sabiex jibqghu jzommu l-post li sal-lum ghadhom joperaw minnu. F'Ottubru 2010 l-GRTU organizzat laqgha ghall-operaturi fejn infurmathom li kull sistema gdida ggib maghha l-posittiv u n-negattivi izda  wiehed jrid jaghti cans halli jara l-andament. Il-GRTU fakkret fid-diversi bidliet li bhalissa il-Belt ghaddejja minnhom u li l-bicca l-kbira minnhom qed ihallu aktar rizultati negattivi milli posittivi.

Issa l-GRTU qeghda f'posizzjoni li tigwida lis-sidien wara li l-Ministeru inkarigat mix-xoghlijiet l-MITC hareg informazzjoni dwar l-progett tal-Bus Terminus barra Bieb il-Belt (l-area fejn kien jarma il-monti nhar ta' Hadd). Il-progett jinvolvi pjan ta' kif ser jigi organizzat Bieb il-Belt. L-ammont ta' karozzi tal-linja ser jonqos sostanzjalment bl-inzul tal-passigiera  fil-Biskuttin (area fejn l-istatwa ta' Kristu Re), minfejn il-pubbliku jkun jista jgawdi l-pjazza u jimxi lejn Bieb il-Belt minghajr periklu. Filwaqt li t-tluq mill-Belt jkun mill-Bus Terminus fid-Ditch ordnat flimkien ma sitt kiosks iddisinjati sabiex jikkumplimentaw l-progett tant mistenni. Dawn il-kiosks ser jkunu uniformi b'differenza fejn fid-departure l-kiosks jkollhom canopy sabiex wiehed jkun jista jistken mix-xemx/xita sakemm jistenna. Fl-arrival l-kiosks ser jkunu l-istess izda minghajr l-canopy.

Fil-present hemm erbatax il-operatur u bhal ma gie miftiehem l-ewwel sitt operaturi kellhom jibdew joperaw kif appena jitlesta l-bus terminus jigifiera fid-departure area. Il-kumplament tal-operaturi ser jkunu joperaw mill-arrivals hekk kif appena johorgu l-permessi li bhalissa qeghdin f'idejn l-MEPA.

Minhabba li l-ammont sostanzjali tal-operaturi huma confectioneries/take aways u li l-ewwel sitt operaturi kellhom jkunu ta' diversi generi u tnejn biss mill-istess generu setghu joperaw fid-departures, l-GRTU kellha tlaqqa lil membri taghha sabiex jintlahaq kompromess.

Vincent Farrugia, GRTU's Director General and Employers representative at the EESC made this week a strong intervention at the EESC's Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society (TEN) Section on the EESC Draft Opinion TEN/474 on Energy Education.

Mr Farrugia argued for a rebalance of funding needed for research and development. Emphasizing on education, though extremely important, may deviate from the urgent need to find the trillions that are needed not only to change behaviors but more especially the financial commitments to finance the extensive programme of research and investment that is needed even much so in alternative resources and in building of new infrastructure.

Europe is still doing little and in the meantime trillions of investments are leaving Europe as the strategy is still one of impositions of the energy industry rather then on creation of new initiatives and incentives to encourage investors and the financial institutions to provide the trillions that are needed to make a real difference. We need to encourage investment in a credible strategy towards the removal of the clear physical and environmental constraints that are effecting development in the energy sector and engaged economic growth within acceptable environmental standards.

After improving in January and February, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased in March by 0.8 points in the EU and by a marginal 0.1 points in the euro area, to 93.2 and 94.4, respectively. The decline was mainly driven by decreasing confidence in the industry and construction sectors. By contrast, confidence increased among consumers and in the services and retail trade sectors.

Among the largest Member States, the UK (-2.5) reported the biggest decrease in sentiment, followed by Germany (-2.4), the Netherlands (-1.3) and Spain (-1.1). By contrast, sentiment improved in Italy (+3.5), Poland (+2.2) and France (+2.0). The ESI is above its long-term average only in Germany. In Malta confidenced increased by 0.6.

Confidence in industry worsened markedly in both the EU (-1.8) and the euro area (-1.5).

In both regions, managers' assessment of their companies' past production and current level of order books deteriorated. At the EU level, also the current assessment of stocks of finished products and export order books deteriorated.

However, managers' production expectations remained broadly stable. In the euro area, production expectations declined, but managers' current assessment of export order books improved slightly, and that of stocks was broadly stable. Confidence in services improved in both the EU (+0.8) and the euro area (+0.6), thanks to more positive assessments of the past business situation and past demand, while demand expectations decreased slightly. Confidence in retail trade also improved in the euro area (+1.8) and -to a lesser extent -the EU (+0.5).

By contrast, confidence in construction worsened in both the EU (-0.8) and the euro area (-1.9), mainly due to a worsening of managers' employment expectations in that sector.

In the EU, managers revised their employment plans upwards in all business sectors except construction. At the same time, expected selling prices were also revised up in the industry and services sectors.

Confidence among consumers improved by 1.3 points in the EU and by 0.6 points in the euro area, mainly on the back of a strong increase in consumers' expectations about the general economic situation and an easing of unemployment fears in both regions. Consumers' assessment of their own financial situation improved slightly in the euro-area, but remained unchanged in the EU. Consumers' saving expectations declined in both areas. Confidence in financial services – not included in the ESI – remained broadly stable in the EU (+0.1) and declined in the euro area (-0.8), on the back of managers' more negative assessment of recent developments in business situation and demand. At the same time, managers' expectations about demand for their companies' services improved markedly.

Almost a thousand micro enterprises including start-up companies and self-employed which between them invested a total of €15.7 million and generated more than 235 new jobs have already applied for the MicroInvest schemes, which assists them to innovate, expand and develop their operations.

The scheme, which was originally envisaged to last until the end of this month, has been extended for another year to cover projects carried out in 2012 in response to an overwhelming demand which saw more than 936 applications being submitted, thereby giving even more businesses the opportunity to benefit from the assistance.

Nonetheless, those enterprises who submit their application by the end of March would be ensuring that their application is processed in time for them to benefit from the assistance during the course of
this year. Approved applications will be given a Certificate that would have to be presented to the Inland Revenue Department with the Tax Return.

Through the MicroInvest scheme administered by Malta Enterprise, businesses can get 40 per cent of the investment to improve their own operations in the form of tax credits, up to a maximum of €25,000.

At 60 per cent of the eligible expenses, the benefit is even higher for Gozitan businesses in view of their double insularity, which often places them at a disadvantage. This additional bonus has encouraged even more Gozitan enterprises to apply for this scheme, and indeed around 30 per cent of those who benefited from the MicroInvest scheme operate in Gozo.

Overall, more than €4.7m in tax credits have already been approved, covering a vast range of investments that businesses have made to improve their day-to-day operations and enhance their growth possibilities.

Eligible expenses include furbishing and upgrading of business premises, machinery and technologies to improve operations and to save or generate energy, as well as investments to ensure compliance with regulations. Also covered are wage costs for new jobs created, as well as the cost for one commercial vehicle as long as such vehicle is involved in the transport of goods as specified in the incentive guidelines.

Open to all micro enterprises that employ less than 10 workers and which have an annual turnover under €2 million, including start-ups and self-employed, the scheme is part of the support provided to SMEs in recognition of their vital role for the economy.

The efforts aimed at strengthening the business environment to ensure it is conducive to job and wealth creation have also led to the creation of Business First, which makes life easier for businesses and particularly SMEs by gathering over 50 Government services under one roof and thus avoiding a lot of unnecessary running around.
Through Business First, which is located at Gwardamangia, businesses will also be given professional guidance and assisted to apply for a myriad of schemes, including the MicroInvest scheme. Further information can be obtained by calling Business First on 144 or via email on , or by visiting http://www.maltaenterprise.com/News_Details.aspx?ID=400&utm_source=Malta+Enterprise+Newsletter&utm_campaign=392fa0c10a-thincMalta_Newsletter_02_2012&utm_medium=email.

Why did you become an entrepreneur? I believe that I came to this position due to a good reputation with clients in our line of business. – How have you come to chose your line of business?

Actually it is a family run business

Where did you go on your last holiday?

My Last visit was to London as I was invited to a wedding and the

thing I liked most was that while I was there I went to the theatre.

What is your earliest memory?

I believe it goes back to when I was almost 5 years of age.

If you could chose to be someone famous who would you be?

A Formula 1 racing driver.