Author: Mel Chamber

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry organised a special dinner for its member to celebrate its 175th anniversary.

With over 600 attendees, the event was under the patronage of H.E. Dr George Vella, President of Malta. During the dinner, Dr Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament was also present and addressed attendees before dinner.

The evening started with some refreshing welcome drinks. Following a lavish three-course meal with accompanying wines, members had the opportunity to partake in post-dinner networking drinks with a selection of liquors, a whiskey bar and chocolate.

Main Sponsors: GO Business and Michael Debono Business

Other Sponsors: M&Z plc, FarsonsDirect and M Demajo

Last week, the European Commission published a Communication commemorating the 30^th Anniversary of the Single Market and complemented this with a separate Communication setting out the Commission’s long-term view in securing Long-term competitiveness of the EU.

For the past thirty years, the Single Market has celebrated numerous achievements, faced numerous hurdles and today it continues to prevail as an instrumental part of the European Union. In a reaction to this important milestone for the European Single Market, MBB President Alison Mizzi stated that, “There is little doubt that the creation and functioning of the Single Market is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union. The implementation of the four freedoms across such a diverse market is unique and should be celebrated. While still facing numerous challenges and far from being complete, the Single Market empowers European companies to grow and be successful. It is therefore crucial that it is responsive and adaptable to ongoing challenges, including global competitiveness, geopolitical challenges, and the green and digital transitions’’.

Ms. Mizzi added, “Compliance costs and overly complex procedures particularly in the provision of services and capital markets remains prevalent. National protectionism in sectors such as road transport coupled with fragmentation or inefficiencies in other areas such as certification and labelling, do not function in the same way as a Single Market should. We augur that these issues will be truly addressed by these latest initiatives.”

30 years on, the Single Market accounts for 15% of the global GDP and is home to 23 million businesses. Considering the challenges experienced recently, including a global pandemic and a war on the EU’s doorstep, these Communications are built on a forward-looking, competitiveness, adaptability, and collective effort agenda. The latter being the crux of the EU’s plan in coordinating both businesses and policy makers to work together towards ensuring Europe’s perseverance for the next decade and beyond.

While remarking on the successes to date, including the tools and frameworks it has developed and which are key in ensuring the Single Market’s success, the 30^th Anniversary Communication acknowledges the urgent need for the Single Market to become more resilient by improving its preparedness in facing current and future crises. The Communication outlines how existing Single Market rules will be enforced whilst continue working on removing barriers as well as fostering the green and digital dimensions of the Single Market.

The Communication on Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030 lists 9 mutually reinforcing drivers in which the Commission will seek to build a regulatory framework. These cover themes such as environmental sustainability, resilience and stability, wellbeing and fairness, as well as productivity.

An important proposal will be the introduction of a competitiveness check that ensures that the impact assessments of legislative proposals clearly showcase the expected impacts of each proposal on cost and price competitiveness, international competitiveness and the capacity to innovate, and also on SME’s competitiveness. The MBB welcomes this proposal especially as it was an important recommendation emanating from the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The Malta Business Bureau will continue to update the local business community on the various aspects highlighted within these two Communications as well as break down the relevant initiatives and tools included in the two communications.

This proposal seeks to harmonise and streamline the framework for data generation and data sharing on short-term rental accommodation services across the EU.

On the 13th of March the Malta Business Bureau in collaboration with the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) held a Business Session on the EU Short-Term Rentals Initiative (STR) at Dar l-Ewropa in Valletta, with special guest MEP Josianne Cutajar who is Rapporteur for the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee. Short-term accommodation rental services have existed for many years alongside conventional accommodation providers such as hotels. However, their popularity has surged in the EU with the rise of the platform economy. Despite the positive opportunities created for tourism activity in general, a number of challenges became prominent affecting hotels, local communities and public authorities.

Dr Mario Sammut, Head of the EPLO delivered the welcoming speech, noting the importance of dialogues such as the ones taking place today. They present an opportunity for stakeholders to voice their views and concerns to MEPs, at a stage when there is still an opportunity to amend legislative proposals.

Ms Alison Mizzi, President at the Malta Business Bureau, joined Dr Sammut in introducing the topic as she stated that, ‘’to manage this economic activity better, public authorities need to be well-equipped with data on short-term accommodation rentals to be able to develop evidence-based policies and for better law enforcement. The lack of uniformity that is currently being experienced on the market is impacting the good functioning of the European Single Market. This is why the European Commission proposed the Short-Term Rental Initiative’’.

An overview of the main elements of the proposed legislative framework was presented by Ms. Christine Said, Policy Executive at the Malta Business Bureau. It was explained that this proposal seeks to harmonise and streamline the framework for data generation and data sharing on short-term rental accommodation services across the EU.

The presentation was followed by a keynote speech on the topic given by MEP Josianne Cutajar who is Rapporteur for the TRAN committee at the European Parliament on this proposed legislation. MEP Cutajar emphasized that the Short-Term Rentals Regulation must take into account all key players within the sector. The proposed rules will improve transparency and the collection and sharing of data from hosts and online platforms, whilst giving public authorities a strengthened legal backing to access beneficial data. Such data will assist local authorities to address the challenges brought about by the online short-term rental market, better responding to the travellers’ and the locals’ concerns, whilst helping them to ensure that the quality of our touristic product is maintained and a more sustainable tourism ecosystem achieved. This will allow consumers to continue benefiting from a wide range of accommodation options with better peace of mind and for legitimate and traditional accommodation providers to compete on a more level playing field within the market.

Several local and EU stakeholders were invited to provide their reactions to the Short-Term Rental Initiative.

Mr. Andrew Agius Muscat, CEO of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association highlighted that the platform economy is a product of the internet and social media. Since its inception, the MHRA has read the signs of the times and accepted that this new form of accommodation provision was here to stay. Instead of fighting it, we called for policy frameworks to correct it. The proposed STR initiative is a much-needed concrete step in achieving a level playing field in the tourism industry and more specifically the accommodation sector. It’s high time that the EU acted on this front. In the meantime, it is important that the public authorities keep pursuing the right enforcement measures to ensure that our tourism product is protected.

Mr Kevin Fsadni, Deputy CEO at the Malta Tourism Authority reassured that the technical capabilities required of short-term accommodation hosts would be supported by clearer guidelines and specifications. He also commented that creating a level playing field is not enough as it is important for local authorities to ensure and support a proportional enforcement of the law.

Ms. Julia Aquilina, Policy Executive at The Malta Chamber said that the Short-Term Rentals Initiative goes beyond direct tourism, as it effects the entire community. She said this is a priority for The Malta Chamber, as we believe that quality is a principle that needs to be in every element of the tourism supply chain. She further highlighted three crucial points that are important to businesses in line with the Short-Term Rentals Initiative: (i) the streamlining of legislation to ensure there are no gaps within policy; (ii) the importance of simplified data sharing and (iii) ensuring clear guidelines and a structured framework.

The event was also addressed by Mr. Matej Zezlin, Public Affairs Manager at HOTREC, who shared HOTREC’s views on the proposal from a European hospitality perspective.

This WE MAKE webinar showcased best practices from three leading manufacturing companies which highlighted the investment opportunities for companies, such as rainwater collection for heating/cooling

“Sustainable manufacturing and conservation of resources are more than just energy management. Water management is expected to take a more pronounced role amongst the metrics for sustainability. Aside from an expression of green credentials, investing in water efficiency allows a company to secure its future cost-base, particularly given that Maltese freshwater is a resource under increasing strain, and its future abundance is not a given,” said Chris Vassallo Cesareo, The Malta Chamber Deputy President.

The Deputy President was addressing attendees during the latest webinar organised as part of the WE MAKE Project which aims to assist companies in becoming more sustainable and more efficient, and thus, more competitive.

“There are various ways to carry out water efficiency investments in industry, as there are many applications of water to the manufacturing process. Process water is used in the execution of manufacturing processes such as incorporation into the product, while cooling/heating water may be used for chilled water systems,” noted Vassallo Cesareo.

The webinar, organised in collaboration with Malta Business Bureau (MBB) and the Energy and Water Agency (EWA), showcased best practices from three leading manufacturing companies which highlighted the investment opportunities for companies, such as rainwater collection for heating/cooling.

Event promotes social dialogue on the importance of the digital transition, the opportunities it brings to the workplace, but also the impact it may have on workers

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, together with Malta Business Bureau and in association with General Workers Union, organised an event titled ‘The Ripple Effect of AI’, as part of the TransFormWork project. The event aimed at discussing the impact of artificial intelligence at the workplace and learn more about the recent EU legislative initiatives in the field of AI.

In his opening speech, The Malta Chamber Deputy President, Chris Vassallo Cesareo noted that The Malta Chamber has in recent years been very vocal about the need for the local business community to digitalise its operations. “In fact, in March 2019, a public-private partnership between the Government and The Malta Chamber – Tech.mt – was launched to help Maltese technological companies grow in areas such as AI and Big Data,” he said.

“Digitalisation and AI have a role to play in many sectors, and indeed, in its recommendations for the Next Legislature (Time to Step Up). In this publication The Malta Chamber stresses that technology and AI are different from each other. Technological investment in digitalisation, including enforcement agencies and the law courts should rank as one of the top priorities of Government in this legislature. This was re-emphasised in our recommendations for the 2023 National Budget, wherein we proposed that local businesses should be incentivised – through reductions in enrolment fees or tax incentives – to invest in their employees to undergo specialised IT related courses,” continued the Deputy President.

Vassallo Cesareo concluded that, nevertheless, The Malta Chamber strongly believes that any digitalisation and AI should still be human focused and led. Social dialogue continues to be vital for a strong democracy and good industrial relations.

Several industry experts also shared their insights on the subject of AI and digitalisation. Prof Joshua Ellul, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology at the University of Malta delivered a presentation on the misconceptions of AI and how it can positively enhance the workplace. Jo-Etienne Abela, Minister for the Elderly & Active Ageing and Consultant of Surgery, gave a video message on the influence of AI within the medical field. Dr James Scicluna, Partner at WH Partners, spoke about EU initiatives on AI, more specifically, the Artificial Intelligence Act, Liability Directive and implications at the workplace.

A panel discussion, moderated by MBB CEO, Joe Tanti, followed and was made up of the following speakers:
• Dr Daniela Grech, Head – Projects & EU Funds, The Malta Chamber
• Josef Bugeja, Secretary-General, GWU
• Stefan Farrugia, CEO, Eunoia
• Dr Angelo Dalli, Entrepreneur, Investor, AI & Technology Expert
• Brigitte Tanti, EEN Coordinator, Malta Enterprise

Dr Daniela Grech said that “The Malta Chamber believes that access to digital-centric schemes, which aim to help business to upgrade and improve their digital infrastructure should be broadened and that Government and business should join forces to develop and implement digitalisation, innovation and technology-driven transformation pathways tailored to different sectors, supported by fiscal incentives.”

“Local business must embark on more agile uptake of automation to address inefficiencies and maximise on costs, and that if that is done well such investments can stimulate economic activity and ultimately increase employment in general,” she continued.