Category: Articles

Other virtual business networking will take place with businesses in Abu-Dhabi and Ankara

The SME Chamber organised the first virtual networking forum with Tunisia for its members.

During this virtual forum, our members had the opportunity to explore direct business collaborations and common interests with other businesses based in the area.

This online forum was first addressed by the Malta Chamber of SMEs President Mr Paul Abela and the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Center of Tunisia Mr Nejib Mellouli, the forum was then addressed by his Excellency Mr. Yassine Eloued, Ambassador of Tunisia to Malta.

Following these introduction, both countries presented their business environment and all businesses were split into rooms according to sectors and interests.

We hope to have more similar opportunities for our members as we’re currently planning other business forums with Ankara and Abu Dhabi.

The online consultation meeting will be held on the 7th of October

The Chamber of SMEs would like to invite you to an online consultation meeting on this important topic.

The government is currently closing on its plans of how the next set of funds that will take us beyond the coming 5 years will be allocated. Government officials will explain the plans currently in place in full.

How can you benefit from this meeting?

• Ensure that EU funds allocated for Businesses are sufficient, adequate and reflect the actual needs of businesses.
• Understand and be able to prepare for the funding opportunities that will become available for the private sector
• Highlight your funding needs for projects you are foreseeing or general support

It is important to take full-advantage of this window of opportunity that we have.

The online meeting will be held as follows:

Registration is required to be sent the meeting link.

This meeting is only open for SME Chamber paid-up members, those not currently members will still be allowed to join the meeting once their membership position is updated.

You can now register to have access to all the 30 sessions in programme

CORE Platform, as a member of CSR Europe is pleased to invite you to CSR Europe’s virtual European SDG Summit “For Climate Action & A Just Transition”, taking place on 11-14 October 2021.

The Summit will bring together 5000+ Sustainability Leaders in 30 virtual sessions to accelerate the journey towards climate neutrality and the adoption of an inclusive approach to the green and digital transition.

Highlight of the event will be the inauguration of the first-ever European Sustainable Industry Barometer at the opening plenary on the 11th of October, with Commission Executive Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, CEOs, and industry federation leaders. The event is open and free for everyone.

You can register here to have access to all the 30 sessions in programme.

Together with other NGOs from Italy, Hungary and Croatia, CORE Platform will be hosting a NATIONAL SDG ROUNDTABLE – Advancing Corporate Sustainability Reporting, on Tuesday, 12 October 2021, from 16:00 17:30. You can register here.

This National SDG roundtable, will address the sustainability reporting scenario: what to expect – opportunities and challenges for companies.

Feel free to extend this invitation not only to your colleagues but also to your network.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT

· Solution-driven dialogues between business leaders, industry federations, EU policymakers, and civil society organisations.

· High-level speakers from a wide variety of sectors and industries.

· The best digital formats for highly interactive discussions and quality networking via the SDG Summit virtual platform.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The Summit is co-organised in collaboration with CSR Europe’s network of 100+ organisations and will include

· 4 HIGH-LEVEL PLENARIES (11:30-13:00 CET) with guest speaker from the European Commission such as Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, Mairead Mcguinness, European Commissioner for Financial Affairs, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs & Social Rights.

· 19 EUROPEAN SDG ROUNDTABLES (09:30-11:00 | 14:00-15:30 CET).

· 7 NATIONAL SDG ROUNDTABLES (16:00-17:30 CET). You can download the full programme here and view here the confirmed high-level speakers.

The final conference gives important recommendations for the future of EU Semester from SMEs’ perspective

On Thursday 16 September 2021, the SMILES project held its final conference on SMEs’ Involvement in the European Semester: stocktaking and the way forward. The 2-year EU-funded project finalised with a rich debate among SMEunited members and the cross-industry social partners, contributing to useful conclusions for the future of the European Semester. The Malta Chamber of SMEs EU and Communications Executive, Fabian Demicoli,  participated in this project from the very beginning and provided input on consultation within Malta’s Government structures.

The purpose of SMILES was to create a better understanding of the state of play of SME organisations’ awareness, consultation and involvement in the European Semester and promoting it further through the exchange of good practices, mutual learning and recommendations for future action.

The event brought together the European Commission, Member States, SME organisations representatives and European and national social partners to exchange on how to improve and strengthen the role of social partners and SME organisations in the European Semester.

Opening session

In her opening speech, Secretary General Véronique Willems reviewed the project’s path in the last two years. She emphasised the necessary adaptation of SMILES to the new economic and social reality caused by the pandemic: “We asked our members during the course of SMILES to report and debate about their involvement in the preparation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs), the use of the EU budget for smoothing the crisis impact and finally for the structural reforms mentioned in the European Semester integrating all major relevant policies for SMEs.”

Presenting the main outcomes of the project, SMEunited Director for Social Affairs, Liliane Volozinskis mentioned the main policy recommendations at European as well as at national level.

National views

In the first session, speakers from national SME organisations CPME  from France and CNIPMMR from Romania and social partners, had the opportunity to share their views and give a more ‘hands-on’ experience on the EU semester process. In the second session representatives from GSEVEE (Greece), ZRP (Poland) discussed about the challenges in their involvement in the design of National Recovery and Resilience Plans.

In the first session, speakers shared a more hands-on experience and vision on the European Semester process, representing views from  CPME (France), CNIPMMR (Romania) and national social partners, .The second session focused on the challenges for the involvement in the design of National Recovery and Resilience Plans with representatives from GSEVEE (Greece), ZRP (Poland).

The new European Semester process – the way forward

Pim Lescrauwaet, Member of Cabinet of Vice-President Dombrovskis referred to adaptations of the European Semester to the changing circumstances in the last decade. “It is clear that the European Semester and Recovery and Resilience Plans will co-exist in the following years. The European Semester will not become obsolete, it will remain in place to look at the broader policy agenda”, he added.

Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General, SGI Europe addressed the necessary focus on the regional aspect: “In many Member States, the real implementation is at regional level. A question is how we should tackle this challenge.”

Markus Beyrer, Director General of BusinessEurope emphasised that next to spending money we must ensure the right conditions to create it, hence strengthening growth and competitiveness.

Luca Visentini, General Secretary of ETUC insisted that for a successful European Semester, Next Generation EU with the RRF, the Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights must be fully integrated in the process.

At the end of the conference, SG Willems concluded that a joint call by the European social partners for a systematic, meaningful and timely involvement of national social partners in the European Semester still stands. This is especially through the implementation and potential adaptation of the national Recovery and Resilience Plans by national authorities. She added recommendation on a stronger role for the European Semester Officers, a clear overview of the deadlines for each step of the Semester process and support for capacity building to social partners and SME organisations where necessary.

She emphasised: “It is a unique opportunity to best combine the use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility with the European Semester process. The political decision makers at national level should fully integrate social partners and SME organisations views to have a good bottom-up approach and to learn from the ground what are the real needs after the pandemic shock.”

source: smeunited.eu

Proposals were presented during a Press Conference on Monday

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has today publicly launched its Budget proposals for 2022. A total of 26 proposals were presented which aim at accelerating the economic recovery, help businesses become future proof, support those businesses still heavily suffering the effects of Covid and to help Malta move into normality. 

The full set of proposals can be found here. The below is a summary of the main proposals presented: 

 

• Widening of existing tax brackets 

Extending the middle 25% tax bracket for up to Eur 100K income to help businesses in their recovery. 

 

• Removal of SISA 

Exercise to be removed for all goods that do not carry the excise identifier marker to avoid unfair competition. 

 

• Rescue package for worst COVID hit businesses 

Extending existing moratoria and lengthened repayment periods. 

Extended Covid Support Assistance – Wage Supplement, Rent, Electricity. 

Scheme for converting accumulated debt due to the Covid impact into a non-repayable grant based on specific criteria. 

Aggressive grants to support the strengthening of the business to the post-Covid scenario – Refurbishments, change in business structure, marketing, re-employment, stocks. 

 

• Addressing the adverse banking environment 

Banking services supervision through the setting up of a task force with the ultimate aim of establishing a Charter for Banking Services and the appointment of a separate Banking Services Supervisory Board that will act as a redress mechanism for disproportionate action or treatment.  

The government is also asked to attract more competition in the banking sector.  

 

• The Workplace 

The SME Chamber is calling for a revamp of the quarantine financial mechanism and  the legalisation of requesting information about vaccine status and travel plans at the workplace. 

a. Unvaccinated employees by choice would not be eligible for any quarantine leave  

b. No Quarantine leave for travellers to areas where quarantine will be necessary upon their return 

c. Legalise the requirement to share information – Vaccination and Travel  

Incentives for employers to create safe and professional team building activities to mitigate increase in mental health and marginalisation issues.  

 

• Accredited Training  

A full financed training scheme based on the training necessities of employers. With resources being very limited at the moment a strong incentive is necessary in order to increase training levels. 

 

• Digitlisation Strategy 

A grant scheme that would help businesses cover costs linked to the successful execution of a website. This includes: 

d. Building/updating/replacing of content which includes products or services for sale. 

e. The optimization of client experience 

f. Linking the site to stocks and having a fully fledged integrated system that can also include the upgrade of the point of sale system and backend functions 

A scheme specifically aimed at raising awareness and supporting businesses investing in cyber security via a tax-credit. 

 

• Reforming MicroInvest 

50% of the eligible tax credit convertible to a (Max. Eur 5,000) grant. 

Extend the duration to use tax credit from 3 to 5 years. 

Increase capping from 50K to 70K for all businesses and from 70K to 90K for businesses currently falling under the preferential category. 

 

• Imports & Exports  

Addressing the high shipping costs at Macro Level through discussions at the EU to negotiate matters as a continent, and at Member State level to negotiate shipping agreements that would reduce importation costs. 

Incentives that would help local businesses produce products previously imported in a sustainable manner. 

Malta to present its case at EU level to get specific exemptions on Brexit procedures. 

Incentivise Exports to Africa through a state facilitated Guarantee Scheme or Insurance. 

 

• Mitigating the Greylisting  

Compliance authorities to implement enforcement fairly and to focus on educating and supporting users to increase compliance.

A specific grant should be made available for CSPs and other service providers to invest and upgrade their due diligence system. 

 

• Carbon-neutral Strategy 

More aggressive grants for the private sector to purchase EVs and creating opportunities for companies to invest in multiple charging stations in several spots, including fast chargers within the business. 

Greener Special Type vehicles scheme should include the possibility to upgrade fleets to the latest Euro Engine. 

Scrappage scheme should be extended to vehicles which are not for private use. 

 

• Gozo 

Proposal for Gozo include a clear ban on the development in ODZ areas as swell as a scheme to renovate unutilised properties. A mutli-storey car-park in Victoria and incentivising clean transport by reduction the ferry cost for Maltese residents with electric vehicles and having the installation of electric chargers in all villages. 

 

Click here for the full proposal document

Click here to download powerpoint presentation

The Customs Department would like to inform all economic operators that, as from Monday, 4^th October, the mandatory uploading of all supporting documents to the National Import System (NIS) is being extended to all cargo arriving by air, except Courier and Postal consignments. This means that the above mentioned procedure applies for all cargo controlled by Luqa Airfreight Section.

Essentially, this means that, all invoices, packing lists, bill of lading, notice of arrival, certificates and other documents related to the particular consignment where a declaration has been submitted, would be required to be attached as shown hereunder:

Greater support for businesses to protect themselves against cyber attacks

Malta Chamber of SMEs Vice President Marcel Mizzi and CEO Abigail Mamo met the Microsoft CEO responsible for Malta, Cyprus and Greece.

Microsoft shared a number of interesting facts in a presentation:

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has held a meeting with the Minister for Finance Hon. Dr. Clyde Caruana in order to voice its concerns on a number of issues relating directly to Banking.

The Main issues highlighted during the meeting where:

Excessive Bank Charges:

The SME Chamber raised its members concerns on the regular increase in bank charges, these mainly relate with cash deposit, cash handling fees, account maintenance and other administrative charges. The SME Chamber highlighted the fact that the main banks in Malta have an obligation to provide basic services, given their dominant position in the Market.

The SME Chamber has reaffirmed its position to follow this issue and seek a workable solution for its members.

 

Burdensome Administrative and Bureaucratic Procedures.

During the meeting the SME Chamber emphasised that the increase in paperwork and bureaucratic procedures are slowing their productivity and increasing costs for businesses. Although the SME Chamber fully understands that certain procedures need to be in place (especially following Malta’s greylisitng), processes can be improved in order to alleviate additional administrative procedures. Members regularly note that such requirements increase indirect costs and take a toll on business resources, which resources can be put to better use.

 

General Issues with Banking

Members represented by the SME Chamber in particular Company Service Providers regularly complain on the ever increasing issue to set-up bank accounts for a number of businesses in particularly start-ups wishing to start operation.

The SME Chamber also raised its concern on this becoming more problematic in the coming months in light of the FATF Grey lisiting.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs has called on the Minister for Finance to seek other alternatives and possibly find a long term solution for this ever-growing issue.

The SME Chamber has agreed to keep following the above and other possible issues in the future and keep an open line of communication with Hon. Caruana informing him directly with any developments and any othe issues encountered by our members from time to time.