The Commercial Courier April/May 2016

THE COMMERCIAL/65

COURIER THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF THE MALTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY SINCE 1947

APRIL / MAY 2016

Deceptive simplicity

The art of Debbie Caruana Dingli

NEWSPAPER POST GOLD COLLABORATING PARTNERS

IN THIS ISSUE LAUNCHING MALTA’S FIRST OFFICIAL BUSINESS PORTAL / TRACKING THE SUCCESS OF THE LOCAL MARITIME SECTOR / BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER ROB LUKE TALKS TERRORISM, UK-MALTA TIES AND BRITAIN’S POTENTIAL EXIT FROM THE EU / OUTGOING MBB PRESIDENT MARIO SPITERI ON THE ORGANISATION’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY / HEAD OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPRESENTATION IN MALTA DR ELENA GRECH DISCUSSES PRIORITIES / FACEBOOK POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT SPECIALIST ELIZABETH LINDER ON TECHNOLOGY, FACEBOOK AND THE HUMAN CONNECTION / THE LATEST BUSINESS NEWS

THE COMMERCIAL/65

COURIER APRIL / MAY 2016

83.

18.

food trends 12 COVER STORY

102.

NEW DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

71 INTERVIEW

Marie-Claire Grima speaks to the parties involved in bringing Malta’s first business portal to life, their vision for it and its impact on the local business environment.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES: REPRESENTING BUSINESSES IN THE EU Outgoing Malta Business Bureau President Mario Spiteri talks Jo Caruana through the organisation’s role, highlights and plans as it celebrates 20 years since its formation.

18 INTERVIEW “THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UK AND MALTA, BILATERALLY AND IN THE EU, IS BEST SERVED BY THE UK REMAINING IN THE EU” British High Commissioner Rob Luke talks terrorism in Europe, UK-Malta ties and Britain’s potential exit from the European Union with Martina Said.

25 IN FIGURES

44.

35 MEDIA

85 INTERVIEW

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TAP INTO THE GLOBAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE

EU: THE COMMISSION’S MISSION

Elizabeth Linder, Facebook’s Politics and Government Specialist for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, speaks to Sarah Micallef about the growing impact of social media and today’s online reality.

PROPERTY IN MALTA… IN NUMBERS A look into the figures related to property in Malta.

27 COVER STORY “MALTA IS CURRENTLY THE LARGEST FLAG IN EUROPE AND THE SIXTH LARGEST IN THE WORLD” Martina Said looks into the local maritime sector’s success with Alison Vassallo, Partner at Fenech and Fenech Advocates, and a number of key industry players.

52.

style review

Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Malta Dr Elena Grech discusses her thoughts on the Union’s priorities in the coming years with Jo Caruana.

102 DESIGN TRENDS

44 MEET THE ARTIST

WHEN CLASSIC MEETS CONTEMPORARY

AN ENDURING TALENT

Martina Said meets the partners at MODEL, the architectural firm behind the new Engel & Völkers Sara Grech Market Centre, to find out what went into this impressive project.

Renowned contemporary artist Debbie Caruana Dingli talks art, life and dogs with Sarah Micallef.

E

stablished in 1947, The Commercial Courier is the official magazine of the The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. It is the leading business magazine, having one of the best distribution channels in the sector. The publication is distributed for free to the members of the The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. It is also distributed with The Malta Business Weekly as well as delivered to leading business people on the island.

The Exchange, Republic Street, Valletta VLT1117 Tel: +356 2123 3873 Fax: +356 2124 5223 info@maltachamber.org.mt www.maltachamber.org.mt

PUBLICATION Sales MANAGER

Editor

sales coordinators

Sarah Micallef Edward Bonello

Lindsey Ciantar Marvic Cutajar Tel: +356 2132 0713

Articles appearing in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

Publisher

Printer

Content House Ltd Mallia Building, 3, Level 2, Triq in-Negozju, Mriehel BKR3000

Progress Press Ltd

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited.

Kevin J. Borg Editorial Coordinators

Tel: +356 2132 0713 info@contenthouse.com.mt www.contenthouse.com.mt

Matthew Spiteri ADVERTISING Sales EXECUTIVE

Kurt Cauchi

Design

Antoinette Micallef ant@box-design.net

ON THE COVER Detail of painting by Debbie Caruana Dingli.

Photo by Joe P. Borg.

Malta chamber’s bronze collaborating partners APRIL / MAY 2016

07

CC Editorial

A year of achievements, a year of goals ahead The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry held its 168th Annual General Meeting on 28th March at the Agostino Portelli Hall within the Exchange Buildings.

A

ddressing the meeting, President Anton Borg marked the achievements of the previous 12 months, and laid out the Malta Chamber’s goals for the coming year.

The consistent pattern of eagerness on the part of the authorities to receive the Malta Chamber’s reasoned guidance on a multitude of subjects that are related to the setting up of a national economic policy once again reflected the organisation’s position of influence within the country. Indeed, the Malta Chamber enjoys an unparalleled position in acting as a voice for all its members and passing on their opinions and suggestions with regularity to the powers that be.

This was also underlined with numerous meetings and visits by the country’s foremost political leaders, who accepted the APRIL / MAY 2016

Chamber’s invitation to meet members and discuss subjects of a business or commercial interest in a frank and open manner.

Authorities expressed enthusiasm in carrying out joint projects with the Chamber such as the establishment of Trade Malta, which commenced operations in May of last year. Looking ahead, the Malta Chamber intends to further leverage on the authorities’ confidence and looks forward to extend other similar partnerships with Government on specific projects which aim to strengthen Malta’s position in important centres of excellence.

The Chamber has consistently believed in the merits of capitalising on the joint strengths of the private and public sectors.

It is therefore with a degree of satisfaction that the Chamber notices that, in line with its recommendation in the Economic 09

CC Editorial Vision for Malta 2014-2020 document, this administration is rendering Public-Private Partnerships a more widespread practice in the Maltese islands.

The Chamber has always emphasised the need for Malta to embrace a balanced economy and that national competitiveness needs to be continuously enhanced. In so doing, numerous position papers were formulated on issues of prime commercial and economic interests such as energy tariffs, abuse in free movement of goods, Eco-Contribution reform and other environmental matters, employment of persons with disability and other labour market issues, pensions, regional aid intensities, tourism strategy, corporate governance and bureaucracy, including the ease of opening of bank accounts for foreigners.

Moreover, the Chamber believes that if the country is to sustain the current positive trend in economic growth and stability, Malta needs to uphold its reputation in international business circles, otherwise the risk that business and investment will be affected by the ensuing uncertainty is very real.

The issue of integrating refugees into the labour market was also a central theme during the AGM. Proper and complete integration cannot only contribute to filling the gap in certain skills, but can lower the average age of Europe’s workforce and help solve the pension crisis that exists in most European countries. Radicalism cannot be tolerated and allowed to become mainstream.

The Chamber President urged its members to ensure equal treatment between

The Chamber has always emphasised the need for Malta to embrace a balanced economy and that national competitiveness needs to be continuously enhanced.

10

Maltese and foreign workers. Only in this way can the integration of foreign workers be ensured and reap the full economic benefits of immigration towards Malta’s economic and social development.

The AGM was also informed of projects which the Malta Chamber undertook in the previous months as well as projects in the pipeline. These include the Enterprise Europe Network, a new digital platform for the Malta Chamber and the development of a new Business Centre at the Exchange Buildings.

The Malta Chamber looks forward to continuing to relay its opinions, suggestions and solutions to the authorities with a view towards contributing to the competitiveness and prosperity of the nation.

The Chamber remains confident of the country’s chances for sustained economic success, based on long-term competitiveness.

In the run-up to Malta’s Presidency of the European Union, the Malta Chamber will work harder with Maltese and European authorities to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ascertaining the right conditions for growth in all sectors. cc

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC COVER STORY

New digital platform for local businesses On 2nd May, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry launched Malta’s first business portal, in collaboration with Content House Group. Marie-Claire Grima speaks to the key parties involved with the portal to discuss the process of bringing it to life, their vision for it and the impact they hope it will have on Malta’s business environment.

PROFESSION AL

SHOPPING

SECURITY

ELSH ECOP TRPI ONNG ICS

RESE STCU AURI RATY NTS

12

SERVICES

LOGISTICS & SHIPPING

COMMUNICAT IONS & TELEPHON Y

HE ALTH & M EDICAL

COMMUNICAT IONS MAC&HITE NELERY PH&ONTOYOLS

MANYA UFCH ACTITU NGRING & CH INDU ARST TERY RS

APRIL / MAY 2016

MAN &I

OFFICE & IN TOTEUR RIIS O

CATERERS & CATE HE ALEQ THUI&PMMEN EDTIC

CC COVER STORY

M PROPERTY

EDUCATION

TOURISM

NUFACTURIN G INDUSTRY

HOME OR SMS

ERING CAL

GAMING

GOVERNMEN T CORPORATIO NS &ENTITIES

IT &GA SOMFT INWGARE

alta’s ever-changing business milieu has made it imperative for the Malta Chamber of Commerce to stay ahead of the curve in order to provide the best support to its current and prospective members alike.

The Chamber’s newly-devised strategy, which included the reorganisation of its executive staff, the recruitment of specialised support, and the projected development of a business centre at its Exchange Buildings in Republic Street, is complemented by a new digital venture, developed hand-in-hand with Content House Group. This involved a complete gutting and refurbishment of the current Chamber website, in order to transform it into a dynamic, active portal, more in line with the needs and demands of 21st century business owners in Malta.

“The Malta Chamber business portal is the first of its kind in Malta, providing readers with business news from Malta and around the world, as well as updates about the Chamber’s work. Through the portal, we are offering an unprecedented package of online products that is expected to fill a gap in Malta’s online business environment,” says Kevin J. Borg, Director General of the Malta Chamber. “The business portal is a source for quality content for every business person in Malta who is interested in staying up to date with current business affairs and opportunities, as well as leading opinions.”

“The portal is also supplemented by a new business directory – the first official one in Malta of its kind. It has been designed to be user-friendly,

intuitive and interactive, making it easy for users to exploit the benefit of listings on the directory. Listings will facilitate collaboration between businesses especially on an international level, as the Malta Chamber shall provide its seal of approval to its members on this platform.” Mr Borg adds that the revamped Chamberlink, which was launched ahead of the portal, is already enjoying very encouraging results. “It has been redesigned to reflect the ambitious goals the Malta Chamber wants to achieve through its renewed online presence. We are offering readers a quality experience, delivered directly to their inboxes on a weekly basis.”

“Information is knowledge and key to business,” says Jesmond Bonello, Managing Director of Content House Group. “The idea behind the new Chamber portal is to have an outward-looking business portal that will provide regular updates on the latest local and European business news, financial analyses, interviews with business leaders, blogs and much more.”

“As Content House, one of the Malta Chamber’s bronze partners, we are not in the habit of entering into casual relations for the sake of it and neither were we ever tempted to seek short-term gains. That means that we take our time to consolidate our position and build relationships. After a very long and successful partnership with the Malta Chamber that enabled us to work on building the island’s leading official business magazine, the time was definitely ripe to also invest in Malta’s first national business portal.”

TRANSPORT & HE ALMTH OT&ORMINEDGICAL

“Through the portal, we are offering an unprecedented package of online products that is expected to fill a gap in Malta’s online business environment.”

Kevin J. Borg, Director General, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry APRIL / MAY 2016

13

CC COVER STORY

“The idea behind the new Chamber portal is to have an outward-looking business portal that will provide regular updates on the latest local and European business news, financial analyses, interviews with business leaders, blogs and much more.”

Jesmond Bonello, Managing Director, Content House Group Micallef, Content House Group’s head of content. “It is constantly updated with the latest national and international business news, analyses, interviews and blogs written by key players in the word of business and finance, keeping our audience au courant with the latest developments in the business and financial world, from insight on what’s happening in the stock market to breaking news relating to issues that can impact business. The fact that it is a responsive site that is accessible from all mobile, tablet and desktop devices will also accommodate the hectic lifestyle of the modern businessperson – whether they choose to browse through the latest news from the comfort of their office or en route to a meeting or engagement.”

Raisa Mazzola, Content House Group’s business development and digital media strategist, says that while the portal is digital, it acknowledges Content House’s origins as a leading publishing company and will continue to utilise the medium of print to get its message out there.

“We have been working in tandem with the Malta Chamber on this project – which included the successful revamping and relaunching of Chamberlink, the digital weekly business newsletter relaunched in March – for more than a year. We pride ourselves on the creation of products and initiatives that are unique and to a certain extent sui generis in their nature. We strongly believe that the three official digital business products we launched with the Malta Chamber will grow to become leading credible business institutions in the years to come,” he asserts.

“I believe the portal will come to serve as a valuable tool and one-stop-shop for the informed businessperson,” says Sarah

“I believe the portal will come to serve as a valuable tool and one-stop-shop for the informed businessperson.”

Sarah Micallef, Head of Content, Content House Group 14

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC COVER STORY

“Interacting and engaging with our audience is crucial, so great importance will be given to various social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.”

Raisa Mazzola, Business Development and Digital Media Strategist, Content House Group

“Although content is divided into different categories, the feed on the homepage picks up the best articles and displays them as one feed for the user to read.” Bjorn Azzopardi, Director, Think

APRIL / MAY 2016

“As a company we recognise and appreciate the effectiveness of print. For this reason, established marketing notions also form part of our strategy, both pre- and post-launch.

However, since this is an online portal, most of the promotion will be carried out through various digital channels. Interacting and engaging with our audience is crucial, so great importance will be given to various social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. The beauty of online marketing lies in the fact that there are no limitations as to whom you can reach. Therefore, besides attracting the local business community, an international audience can also be gained through a number of different digital strategies. And with a project like this, a multimedia campaign is key.”

Bjorn Azzopardi, director of Think – the company responsible for designing and developing the portal – says that the ultimate challenge was to present a design that would have all the content flow together to give the user a unified experience. “Although content is divided into different categories, the feed on the homepage picks up the best articles and displays them as one feed for the user to read.

The portal also integrates a Business2Business directory, which I believe is one of the portal’s most popular features.” cc

17

“The relationship between the UK and Malta, bilaterally and in the EU, is best served by the UK remaining in the EU” Martina Said chats with British High Commissioner Rob Luke about terrorism in Europe, UK-Malta ties, as well as Britain’s potential exit from the European Union.

“T

he government’s position in advance of the Brexit referendum is very clear: that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union. This is, in effect, the government’s recommendation to the public who will be voting on June 23rd,” says British High Commissioner Rob Luke, on the hot topic that’s been dominating British and European media for months now.

“We’ll be stronger because in the EU we have a voice which makes us more 18

resilient than one country alone, it means we have a bigger say on the issues that really matter at an international level; safer because it enables us to collaborate with our European partners, to tackle crossborder crime and terrorism, as well as the challenges we face in terms of migration, for instance; and better off because in the EU we have a free market of over 500 million people which is very much the driver of investment and the creator of jobs. All of these things are a consequence of our membership of the EU, and that’s

why we feel we are better in than out. Of course, ultimately, it will be a decision that the British people take.”

I meet Mr Luke at the British High Commission in Ta’ Xbiex, merely days before US President Barack Obama – at the end of his three-day UK visit to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday at the end of April – stated that it was wrong for Brexit campaigners to suggest that agreeing on a new trade relationship if Britain were to leave the EU would be straightforward. Mr Luke channels similar sentiments.

APRIL / MAY 2016

Photos by Alan Carville

CC INTERVIEW

CC INTERVIEW

“The government has made it very clear that if the UK were to leave the European Union, we would face years of economic uncertainty and disruption, and that would of course have an impact on investment and jobs.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

19

CC INTERVIEW

“The government has made it very clear that if the UK were to leave the European Union, we would face years of economic uncertainty and disruption, and that would of course have an impact on investment and jobs,” he states, adding that the same uncertainty would inevitably have an impact on British as well as European GDP. “It is reasonable to assume that the sterling would come under pressure as a consequence of that uncertainty. Anything which creates risk or uncertainty within economic markets is difficult, and we have no means to understand and know accurately how long the process of completing a Brexit would take, but also what the UK would or would not be able to achieve in terms of negotiating new terms for its relationship with EU member states, as well as other states as a country operating outside of the European Union.”

On a bilateral level, Mr Luke believes that Malta has a very strong interest in the UK remaining a member of the EU as both countries have similar views on a lot of key things that matter, namely support for SMEs, deepening and broadening the free market, expanding a single market in services, and enhancing existing free trade agreements. “A lot of this is common ground between the UK and Malta. However, the relationship between the UK and Malta doesn’t just exist within the context of the European Union. We also have a bilateral relationship and therefore a number of the bilateral agreements and understandings which exist between the two countries would not be affected. But of course, our view is that the relationship between the UK and Malta both bilaterally and within the EU is best served by the UK remaining in.”

Despite such uncertainties, Mr Luke believes that Malta’s relationship with the UK is only getting stronger. “One area where I would like us to be doing even more is in the commercial field – there is trade in the region of €500 million a year between the UK and Malta, which is respectable but I would like to see more British companies in the market here and more interaction generally between Maltese and British business,” he maintains.

The British High Commission in Malta supports British business in two ways: firstly, by providing support to individual British businesses, either those that are already in the market here or those that are exporting or offering their services to Malta. Secondly, on a more political level, the British High Commission is also responsible for boosting efforts at a European level to create the environment in which British and Maltese businesses can thrive, particularly SMEs. “This might mean cutting back on regulation, negotiating free-trade agreements, supporting the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP) – all these measures, which are very important to individual businesses, are areas where we are active and where 20

“The reality is that terrorism has been around for quite a while, and terrorism is going to be around for the foreseeable future.”

we’ve made a lot of progress, but there is more work to be done.”

Moving on to pressing issues dominating the rest of Europe, Mr Luke shares his thoughts on the recent spate of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Europe recently, specifically in Paris and Brussels.

“The situation is very alarming and we have huge sympathy for those affected by the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels. The reality however is that terrorism has been around for quite a while, and terrorism is going to be around for the foreseeable future,” asserts Mr Luke.

“In reacting to these individual attacks and making sure that we’re doing everything we can at national and European level to protect our citizens and investigate these terrible crimes, we also have to look at the longer

term factors: how can we address conflict in those parts of the world where terrorism is flourishing and where radicalisation is taking place? How can we tackle this twisted ideology which is the cause of this radicalisation and sometimes the motivation for these terrible attacks?”

He goes on to elaborate how terrorism can be tackled concretely. “There is the direct aspect, where the international community including the UK has been very prominent in tackling Daesh [Isis] directly, for example militarily in Iraq and Syria. That is also a direct manifestation of our willingness and desire to tackle terrorism and those groups,” he says. However, he adds that there can be no ultimate military solution to terrorism, which is where other, more long-term solutions come into play.

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC INTERVIEW

“The longer-term task of counterradicalisation is much more challenging, but is a task we have to undertake,” says Mr Luke. “I think the key thing that we can do ultimately is address living standards in parts of the world which have been fertile territory for groups such as Daesh. The UK has been very prominent in political as well as development efforts in Syria, for instance. If we can support communities in these vulnerable territories to create economic opportunities for young men in particular, then hopefully that becomes a means by which to turn people away from radicalisation and from picking up arms.”

Mr Luke says we needn’t look too far either, as radicalisation also exists in our own communities, and needs to be addressed by society as a whole. “This means challenging their ideology, pulling people up on behaviour or signs which might be the precursors of radicalisation, but also supporting those who are vulnerable and at risk of radicalisation. It’s a multi-disciplinary approach involving police, local authorities, and – in the European context – creating collaboration between European countries who need to exchange information on crossborder crime and terrorism threats.”

Using Libya as an example, Mr Luke says that a willingness to support countries, especially those that are vulnerable, is a step in the right direction towards addressing the longer-term task of counter-radicalisation.

“Supporting Libya would mean responding to its requests and calls for assistance, trying to establish effective state structures to enable the Libyan authorities themselves to tackle Daesh which, as we know, is alarmingly present in certain parts of Libya. The solution cannot be military alone, it has to be political too and also led and driven by the authorities of the countries concerned.”

In hindsight, was greater intervention necessary in order to stabilise the situation in Libya early on, rather than allow for terrorist groups like Daesh to gain more ground?

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but the reality is that the intervention which took place in 2011 was necessary because there was a serious risk of terrible violence in Benghazi in particular,” states Mr Luke. “The intervention was internationally agreed and approved by UN Security Council Resolution, and was in fact called for by the Arab League at the time. Since then, the UK and other international partners have been working hard to try and support Libya in terms of establishing security and stability. As we know, that hasn’t been a straightforward process, but what’s important is what we, as the international community, can do now at the request of the Libyan authorities, to help them gain full control of their country, to deliver services to their citizens, and to start driving economic growth which ultimately is the key to progress in any country, but also APRIL / MAY 2016

“The relationship between the UK and Malta, bilaterally and in the EU, is best served by the UK remaining in the EU.”

of course to tackle the alarming threat posed by Daesh.”

The recent global leak of documents, dubbed the Panama Papers, has been an additional source of pressure for many governments worldwide, resulting in resignations, announcements as well as blatant denial of wrong-doing. But the issue of tax evasion has rightfully caused the common citizen to increasingly doubt the credibility and integrity of politicians across the globe.

Mr Luke says that the UK has been, and will continue to be, at the forefront of international efforts to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. “The UK has announced that it will be establishing a public registry of beneficial ownership

by June this year. Only last week it was announced that the UK along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy would be undertaking the automatic exchange of information about beneficial ownership by early 2017, so the UK is insistent on trying to tackle this issue of tax evasion but also the related issue of corruption as well. Of course this has to happen on an international level to ensure there is a level playing field for business and for countries seeking to attract business.”

September 2016 will mark the end of Mr Luke’s tenure in Malta as British High Commissioner, but he is eager to point out that, while it’s been a wonderful experience so far, it is not over yet. “It’s been a very busy four years, which means it’s also been a very busy four years for Malta. I arrived six months or so before the 2013 elections so I’ve seen a change of government and since then also lived a busy period in terms of major international events – namely the Valletta summit,

the Commonwealth heads of government meeting and we ourselves on a bilateral level have had a high number of senior visitors during that period, including seven members of the Royal family, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron.”

On a parting note, Mr Luke believes that Malta’s economy, which increased by 6.3 per cent in real terms in 2015 over the previous year according to statistics published by the NSO, is doing well by any standard, and certainly by eurozone standards, and so is something the Maltese government should be proud of. “I’d like to think there is a small UK dimension in there – the tourism sector has been an important part of Malta’s growth, and approximately one visiting tourist in every three that come to Malta is a Brit. Also, the close institutional and business-to-business ties in the country’s other area of strength, financial services, is a source of shared economic benefit to the UK and Malta. None of this suggests that I’m trying to take any credit for Malta’s growth, which is very much Malta’s achievement alone.”

As for future challenges, Mr Luke concludes that he’s interested to see how the UK and Malta can work together to ensure that their common EU membership can be a value add to national efforts to drive growth. “Ultimately, our economies can only flourish if the European and eurozone economies are flourishing. By taking measures together in certain areas such as deepening the single market, cutting back on red tape and supporting SMEs, then there’s no reason why Malta’s economy shouldn’t continue to flourish, and the UK’s too which by European standards is also performing well economically, and will hopefully continue to grow.” cc 23

CC in figures

IN Figures

Property in Malta

4

18%

67%

the average number of months it takes a buyer to find a suitable property.

the percentage of homeowners in Malta who have more than one residence.

once they buy a house, most Maltese remain in the same house for the rest of their life.

31%

1,325

13

the majority of Maltese still turn to newspapers first when they’re looking for a house to buy.

the number of persons in Malta per square kilometre – the EU average is 117.

the average number of years after which a move takes place.

11

3

72%

the number of properties most people look at before making a decision to purchase.

the average size of a household, with 29.8% of the population living in a three-person home.

parking was mentioned as a priority by the vast majority of homeowners.

42%

15%

26%

of adults aged between 25 and 65 still live with their parents.

the average percentage of their income that Maltese people spend on housing, including bills and mortgage.

Source: Remax Insights

the highest percentage of occupied houses in Malta are terraced or town houses.

Source: Malta International Airport APRIL / MAY 2016

25

CC COVER STORY

“Malta is currently the largest flag in Europe and the sixth largest in the world” Malta’s maritime sector can boast decades of success against the backdrop of a vibrant history defined by Maritime traditions. But if recent statistics are anything to go by, this industry is only gaining strength as it goes. Martina Said speaks to Alison Vassallo, Partner at Fenech & Fenech Advocates and Chairperson of the Yachting Services Business Section (YSBS) at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry together with other industry players, to find out more about this sector’s success

Grand Harbour Marina, Vittoriosa

“F

ew may be aware that the Malta flag is currently the largest in number worldwide, as far as yachts of over 24 metres are concerned,” says Dr Alison Vassallo, Partner within the Yachting and Marine Litigation Departments at Fenech and Fenech Advocates and Chairperson of the Yachting Services Business Section (YSBS) at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. “Malta is currently the largest flag in Europe and the sixth largest in the world with 62 million gross tonnes, of which yachting, of course, represents only a percentage. There are currently over 510 yachts of over 24 metres registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, consisting of 334 privately registered yachts and 176 commercially registered yachts.”

Dr Vassallo, who has been involved in the yachting industry for the past eight years following her specialisation in international maritime law and shipping at the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), reveals that Malta is being spoken of in international fora as the “neatest and safest” option for registration requirements as well as corporate services, tax planning and a consistently high level of service.

Before elaborating further on this sector’s achievements, she explains that the term APRIL / MAY 2016

‘yachting industry’ is often used to refer both to the predominantly local yachting market, consisting of and catering to yachts below and around the 24 metre mark, and to the international superyacht market which consists of yachts over 24 metres in length.

“Furthermore when we speak of the ‘yachting industry’, there are in fact various facets that one needs to consider, such as legal services, our flag, the logistical setup which includes marinas and yards, and the various service providers which cater to yachts physically calling at Malta,” explains Dr Vassallo. In fact, it is a combination of all these factors put together that has made Malta stand out in this sector. Such success, however, was not achieved overnight.

Dr Vassallo explains that, due to its prime geographical location and status as an island state, Malta has long been associated with yachting, even prior to EU accession, as a cruising destination and also as a convenient location for the obtainment of duty free bunkers.

“With Malta becoming a member of the European Union in 2004, the legislative scenario necessarily underwent significant changes. While the benefits that are usually associated with offshore jurisdictions, such as tax free supplies, came to an end, the government at the time recognised

that yachting had defined itself as a niche maritime sector in its own right on the international and EU arena, and adopted a proactive approach to render Malta as a jurisdiction as attractive as possible to yacht owners.”

This must be viewed within the context of the yachting industry undergoing significant changes over the past decade on a global level, she maintains. “While up to 15 years ago the ownership of yachts was predominantly associated with only a handful of high-profile owners, such as the Onassis family and Middle Eastern royalty, the increase in global wealth over the past two decades has led to a meteoric rise in the global superyacht fleet.

The current global fleet consists of 10,000 yachts over 24 metres in length with over half of these being over 30 metres in length,” says Dr Vassallo. “The obvious advantage was that Malta was in the enviable position of being able to build on the reputation, performance and experience garnered in building a leading merchant flag and to extend this success to the niche yachting market.”

Statistics published by Transport Malta earlier this year revealed that the Maltese Register of Shipping recorded an increase of almost 8.3 million gross tonnage – a growth rate of 14.3 per cent – in 2015 over the previous year.

27

CC cover story The Malta flag also enjoyed a significant increase of 10.8 per cent in the registration of superyachts of over 24 metres in 2015 over the previous year. With record figures all around, I ask Dr Vassallo what factors helped contribute to such success.

“Considering Malta’s relatively recent entry into the superyacht sector, there has been a strikingly sharp ascent in the increase of its popularity and consequential growth in its registered fleet. Malta is today being spoken of in the same breath as the Cayman Islands, Marshall islands, Isle of Man and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, all of which enjoyed popularity as superyacht flags well before Malta’s entry into the scene,” she asserts.

“I think this boils down to a number of factors. First and foremost this is undoubtedly the result of concentrated efforts made by Transport Malta in promoting Malta as a yachting flag, including exhibiting at major events such as the Monaco Yacht Show.” Dr Vassallo adds that, “from a logistical perspective, Malta is in a prime location to offer services to yachts calling at our shores. The privatisation of marinas and yachting refit facilities over the past years has also formed part of the overall improvement in building Malta’s image and rendering it synonymous with yachting.”

Gordon Vassallo, General Manager at the Grand Harbour Marina in Vittoriosa – which boasts 250 berths – and member of the executive board of Chamber’s YSBS, says it is striking to see the number of superyachts flying the Maltese flag during a boat show or line-up in any marina in the Mediterranean.

“The flag has earned a solid reputation with key industry players including crew, yacht management companies, classification societies, insurers and financiers. Yacht owners feel comfortable associating the name of their superyacht with the Maltese flag, and an important factor for superyacht administrators which Malta seems to deliver

“Malta is today being spoken of in the same breath as the Cayman Islands, Marshall islands, Isle of Man and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”

Dr Alison Vassallo, Partner at Fenech and Fenech Advocates

on is paperwork efficiency. Comments heard from people in industry suggest that the Maltese flag provides a strong framework without being over bureaucratic.”

Mr Vassallo says that other services within the industry have potential for further growth. “Winter lay-up and refit work is doing well, however superyacht traffic is low during the peak summer months. Malta is not recognised as a superyacht destination and

Dr Alison Vassallo, addressing guests at the YSBS Social Event on 18th February 2016, and Niki Travers Tauss, Managing Director Esprit Yachting Ltd and Vice Chairperson of the YSBS

28

yachts visiting during this time are mostly between charters – very few yachts start or stop charters in Malta.”

Dr Alison Vassallo is in agreement that chartering is one area that affords to be worked on further. “While the concentration of charters has traditionally been and will very much remain scattered in the West Med, as a result of its unique location and proximity to Sicily, Tunisia and Greece, Malta undeniably offers a fascinating option as a starting point to a charter holiday in the Med. However as an island that is steeped in history, its attractiveness as a destination in its own right goes beyond its convenience as a pick-up spot.”

On the Grand Harbour Marina’s achievements, Mr Vassallo says that some guests choose this marina for the proximity to the airport, others for the mild weather.

“However, the majority choose the marina for its highly experienced and professional team.

The fact that it’s set in a naturally-protected harbour with a history spanning several centuries also makes it attractive. The Grand Harbour Marina forms part of the Camper & Nicholsons network of international marinas, offering guests a guaranteed standard of quality. It offers berths for yachts of up to 135 metres in length, which are equipped with power and water supplies, in-berth fuelling, pump-out and ADSL internet.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC COVER STORY

L-R: Mark Napier, Vice Commodore R.M.Y.C, Hon. Edward Scicluna, Ministry of Finance, Niki Travers Tauss, Managing Director Esprit Yachting Ltd, Hon. José Herrera, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth, and Kevin J Borg, Director General, Malta Chamber

Dr Alison Vassallo goes on to say that while some other EU member states have made the mistake of choosing to take a punitive approach towards yacht owners, Malta has recognised the value of strengthening the legislative package affecting superyachts, with significant results. “Owners and financiers of both

private and commercial yachts are increasingly turning to Malta to find solutions for their financing, chartering, importation, yacht leasing and general fiscal requirements,” she asserts. “There is a common misconception regarding the significance of the flag for tax purposes, which in reality is close to none. VAT considerations for the owner arise in case of use of the yacht in EU waters – studies have shown that the superyacht fleet is predominantly based in Europe with the average yacht spending almost 70 per cent of her time in the Mediterranean, which is where our strong package of legal solutions offered to the owners of private and commercial yachts kicks in.”

Private yachts may benefit from the guidelines relating to the VAT treatment of yacht leasing which allow owners of yachts intended for private use to obtain a VAT paid certificate on their yachts. “As things stand, the Maltese system represents the most attractive and stable mechanism for obtaining a VAT paid certificate on a European level. Malta also offers an attractive outright VAT payment solution for smaller yachts and efficient temporary importation procedures. Commercial yachts benefit from streamlined VAT registration and importation procedures and an attractive corporate tax regime. Malta also offers an attractive solution for the payment

of VAT on charters of 90 days or less commencing in Malta.”

Dr Cornelia Zammit German, CEO of Falzon Group and third generation member of this company, says that an experienced and professional workforce, a developed maintenance and support infrastructure, and state-of-the-art marinas are some of the key elements that are contributing to the positioning of Malta as a centre of excellence for the yachting industry.

“The supply of bunkers is naturally a basic requirement for superyachts, and Malta offers high quality and competitively-priced refuelling options. As with all services within a particular industry, there is a chain reaction between the successes of every service, and therefore it is in the interest of all service providers to maintain the highest levels possible in terms of quality and value for money.”

Falzon Group, which has been part of this industry since the 1950s, is always looking to step up its game, says Dr Zammit German, who is also a member of the executive board of Chamber’s YSBS. “The Falzon Group invests heavily in this segment and offers the shipping and yachting industry bunkering services by road tanker, barge or pipeline. We will shortly also be servicing the Grand Harbour Marina in Vittoriosa with a fully integrated marine fuel station, enabling yachts to be refuelled at berth. Falzon Group

“The supply of bunkers is naturally a basic requirement for superyachts, and Malta offers high quality and competitivelypriced refuelling options.”

Dr Cornelia Zammit German, CEO of Falzon Group APRIL / MAY 2016

31

CC COVER STORY

“Yacht owners feel comfortable associating the name of their superyacht with the Maltese flag.”

Gordon Vassallo, General Manager at the Grand Harbour Marina

also operates a waste oil collection service from yachts and other sea craft, thereby assisting the industry with its environmental obligations.”

Commercial manager at Creek Developments Plc, Sarah Gauci Carlton, grew up on a boat in Msida marina – the same marina she now overlooks – and has been involved with boats in one way or other all her life. “Since taking over the Msida and Ta’ Xbiex marinas in January 2011, Creek Developments Plc has invested over €9 million in comprehensively upgrading the marina. Enjoying a uniquely central and sheltered location, the marina now has first-class facilities and service to match, providing exceptionally comfortable yearround berthing for yachts up to 22 metres in length. Creek Developments Plc has established close working relationships with many yacht registry agencies and reputable service providers, to ensure that when a yacht comes in for registration, the whole process is efficient, professional and seamless.”

She goes on to add that it’s not only superyachts that are increasingly being berthed in Maltese marinas. “The owners of many high-end leisure yachts are also choosing to register their yachts under the Maltese flag. Proximity to Europe, stable political climate, economic incentives and efficient, knowledgeable and ethical service providers are attractive to individuals and companies for whom reputation is paramount.”

As Chairperson of the Yachting Services Business Section (YSBS) at the Malta Chamber, Dr Vassallo says that its aim is to identify and raise the challenges faced by the various facets of the industry with the relative authorities to find workable solutions. “The continued growth of this

sector has over the past years led to the formation of a number of associations, forums, groups and entities, some as a joint initiative between the public and the private sector. While each has its own particular objectives, the YSBS is of the view that we are all essentially ‘pulling different ropes to raise the same sail’.”

Last February, the new committee within the YSBS brought together representatives from these different entities in a first-ofits-kind social event, attended by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth Jose Herrera, Shadow Minister for Finance Mario De Marco and Shadow Minister for Tourism Antoine Borg. cc

“Since taking over the Msida & Ta’ Xbiex marinas in January 2011, Creek Developments Plc has invested over €9 million in comprehensively upgrading the marina.”

Sarah Gauci Carlton, Commercial manager at Creek Developments Plc 32

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC MEDIA

Using social media to tap into the global political dialogue Elizabeth Linder, Facebook’s Politics and Government Specialist for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East was recently in Malta to deliver a talk organised by the University of Malta Faculty of Arts Committee for the Public Understanding of the Humanities. Here, she speaks to Sarah Micallef about the growing impact of social media, the importance of her role within today’s online reality and her Malta talk, ‘The Human Connection: Facebook’s Technology and the Global Political Dialogue’.

S

tarting her career at Google, Elizabeth Linder moved to Facebook, based in California, in 2008. Three years later, she moved to London to build the company’s politics and government division for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and has been there since, working with politicians and government officials on using Facebook to connect with people.

Her primary role, she tells me, is helping people in positions of leadership understand how to connect to citizens who are affected by their leadership. “People began turning to Facebook to talk about political, governmental and societal issues, so much so that election-related topics were the APRIL / MAY 2016

most talked-about topics of conversation on Facebook last year,” she explains, giving an idea of the magnitude.

“It’s really important that if people are turning to Facebook to talk about their country and the issues that matter to them, that the people making decisions on their behalf are also in this space. That is where I fit in – helping to advise politicians and government officials on understanding where they fit into this picture and how they can be part of the broader dialogue,” Ms Linder maintains.

And to her, it reflects the future of where political decision-making is going. “I see people in politics now having a much wider

opportunity to reach more citizens and voters than ever before, and even engage in two-way dialogue. In order to connect with people in today’s world, you really have to be understanding of social media,” she continues.

But what does she feel are the implications of Facebook on politics? Speaking of the implications for the broader political world, Ms Linder points to decision-making as being a primary factor, explaining that, “politicians have a greater ability to make better decisions when those decisions are informed by a wider cross-section of people.”

The second factor she points to is trust.

“There is a huge opportunity to build trust 35

CC MEDIA

“Election-related topics were the most talked-about topics of conversation on Facebook last year.”

with people by using Facebook well, and I think that this is quite powerful. As a citizen, as your relationship with your politicians develops through social media, you either develop a greater understanding of where they are coming from and why they are making the decisions they are making, or you begin to increasingly question their motives – and if you’re not getting answers, you start wondering why it is that they are in power. It could really work both ways,” she says.

As for the impact of social media today, how far-reaching is it, when it comes to politics and the government in general?

“We’ve been able to measure some impact,” Ms Linder affirms, maintaining that during an election, voter turnout will increase when people share that that they have voted on Facebook with their friends, for example. “We carried out a study with Nature magazine – a US scientific magazine – where we found that people were encouraged to vote because they saw their friends were talking about it on social media. We found that 342,000 people were influenced to go to the polls because they had seen that a friend had voted on Facebook. That is enormously powerful – it is enough votes to actually determine an election,” she says.

The Politics and Government Specialist goes on to point to another study carried out in the UK, relating to the potential for Facebook to build trust. “Staffordshire, one of the largest counties in the UK, carried out a study which showed that people today trust updates from the police on Facebook more than they trust updates about the police in print, radio and TV news,” she explains, Elizabeth Linder and Dr Emanuel Buttigieg

affirming that the potential to reach people in a real way online and build trust is starting to have a real impact.

Asked about Facebook’s own political stance, Ms Linder is quick to point out that as a company, Facebook is very much a-political.

Having said that however, she states that they do have a set of values that they adhere to. “Our mission is to help make the world more open and connected. We believe in that mission and strive to place that mission in the front of everything we do. Generally speaking when I’m meeting with politicians and government officials, I’m promoting and encouraging them to be more open and to connect more with citizens. No matter what political party it may be, that message is always sound,” she continues.

Moving on to her Malta talk, ‘The Human Connection: Facebook’s Technology and the Global Political Dialogue’, I ask, what does 36

she consider Facebook’s relationship with the so-called ‘global political dialogue’ to be? “This is one of the most exciting things about Facebook,” she points out, explaining, “no debate is limited to any one country or region, which means that people have a huge opportunity to connect globally.”

One example she gives for which this is particularly relevant is within expatriate communities, where someone may not live in a particular country, but they’re much closer to the dialogue there, thanks to social media.

Having read for a BA in French and Italian at Princeton University before joining Google and Facebook, Elizabeth Linder was invited to speak in Malta by the Faculty of Arts because she represents the potential that a person with a Humanities degree holds. As she explained in her talk in March, she was able to embark on her particular career path because of the rounded cultural APRIL / MAY 2016

CC MEDIA

“We found that 342,000 people were influenced to go to the polls because they had seen that a friend had voted on Facebook.

That is enormously powerful – it is enough votes to actually determine an election.”

education provided by her Humanities degree. Elaborating on this, she explains, “my background is not in computer science but in language, history and society. And in my experience, there is enormous potential for us to better understand the world through technology and Facebook when we have a background in the Humanities; exploring the various ways in which leadership, decisionmaking and human compassion come into play on social media in new and exciting ways.”

As for her experience of Malta during her visit, Ms Linder maintains that on a personal level, she found the island fascinating, and

was struck by the layers of history drawing across Europe. Meanwhile, on a professional basis, she adds, “I think we are going to see really interesting uses of Facebook in Malta moving forward. Elections are a few years off, but already I see a lot of excitement for politicians and government officials to use Facebook to communicate with citizens.” And while she doesn’t have Malta-specific insight in relation to Facebook usage to share just yet, she is looking forward to seeing how the use of different products, such as videos or question-and-answer sessions in which politicians communicate with citizens, will evolve over time. cc

The Faculty of Arts Committee for the Public Understanding of the Humanities was set up some three years ago by the Faculty of Arts. Chaired by Prof. Maria Attard and Dr Timmy Gambin while Prof. Attard is on sabbatical, the Committee has taken on a number of initiatives aimed at generating a wider appreciation of the Humanities. The process kicked off with an intra-Faculty of Arts meeting that generated many ideas, one of which was the need to organise more events aimed at the wider public. Thus, in 2015, the Committee organised a well-attended symposium on migration which was opened with an address by the Head of the UNHCR in Malta. That symposium launched a series of ‘Humanities ON ...’ initiatives – of which Ms Linder’s talk was part. For more information and to keep abreast of future events, follow the Facebook page of the Faculty of Arts.

38

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC CASE STUDY

Beyond ordinary One of the modern markers of luxury is ownership of a fully-staffed yacht, allowing you to charter your own maritime journeys and relax in five-star luxury in the middle of the sea. However, this is inaccessible to all but the staggeringly wealthy – or is it? Marie-Claire Grima talks to Azure Ultra managing director Perry Newton about the joys of private yacht chartering and the benefits driving many to fractional ownership.

T

he Sunseeker name is synonymous with a lavish lifestyle. From paparazzi pictures of celebrities winding down and relaxing on board a spacious Sunseeker deck, to the yachts’ regular appearances in the luxury eye candy that is the James Bond film franchise, embarking upon one of these deluxe British-built yachts guarantees VIP treatment and accommodation that would put any top-ranking hotel to shame. So it’s no surprise that Azure, the deluxe Malta-based hospitality company specialising in five-star hotels, luxury resorts, opulent residences and exclusive vacation clubs, has added three yachts to its luxury vacation product collection, under the banner of Azure Ultra.

“Our core business is the chartering of yachts from our base in the world-class Grand Harbour Marina in Birgu. We offer fixed price and longer duration charters around the Maltese archipelago and beyond.

Our bespoke packages offer long-term charters in Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Ligurian and Adriatic waters,” says Azure Ultra’s managing director Perry Newton.

40

“A luxury charter yacht experience is one of life’s greatest pleasures with an appeal that crosses generations like few others.

Many special occasions or anniversaries can be taken beyond ordinary with a luxury yacht experience – from an exciting twist on a birthday party to newlyweds boarding on the adventure of their lives to couples

celebrating many years of marriage by sailing off into the sunset. On the other hand, it’s an excellent option for corporate events and functions too. A business charter package with VIP treatment and the services of a fully-qualified captain and stewardess certainly sends a message to your clients that your company means business!

“A luxury charter yacht experience is one of life’s greatest pleasures with an appeal that crosses generations like few others.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC CASE STUDY

“Owning a luxury yacht is not for the faint-hearted. However, our smart plan brings in ownership of a luxury Sunseeker yacht at a fraction of the full purchase price.”

Destinations and experiences at Azure are tailor-made to suit our clients’ wishes to the letter.”

Azure Ultra has also introduced the relatively new concept of fractional yacht ownership. This means that several unrelated parties can share in the ownership of a yacht, mitigating the risk and sharing the price, which is prohibitively expensive for many.

This concept has attracted a lot of interest from European visitors to the island who have now made long-term commitment to continuing their stays in Malta. “Owning a luxury yacht is not for the faint-hearted,” says Perry. “The initial purchase and maintenance are frighteningly high, making outright ownership the sole preserve of the very wealthy. However, our smart plan brings in ownership of a luxury Sunseeker yacht at a fraction of the full purchase price.

The two original boats in Azure Ultra’s fleet, Miss Moneypenny and Don’t Ask, sold out soon after the fractional ownership plan was launched, with both offering 30 weeks of fractional in the first year. It was then that we went on to procure Mio Amore, in order to be able to satisfy our clients’ demands.”

Perry adds that the company loves promoting Malta, and has launched targeted marketing campaigns and inspection visits to the island, which have attracted Europeans of various nationalities. “It is a source of great pride for us that each new European buyer is now a long-term Malta visitor,” he says.

Azure Ultra has three boats in its present fleet. Mio Amore, a 69-foot-long Sunseeker Manhattan 64 with a range of 350 miles, combines space with impeccable APRIL / MAY 2016

styling, cutting-edge technology and fine furnishings, accommodating 12 guests and sleeping eight while berthed and six at sea.

There are four two-berth cabins including the VIP Stateroom, VIP ensuite Shower Room and the Master Stateroom, with the fourth used as either a guest cabin or crew accommodation.

Don’t Ask, a 61-foot-long Sunseeker Manhattan 56 with a range of 270 miles has a light and airy interior – it’s known as the family yacht as it has a Master Stateroom and two twin cabins. The yacht accommodates 10 guests, sleeping six while berthed and four at sea. Both these vessels hold an international licence, which allows them to sail outside Maltese waters.

Meanwhile, for those who prefer to keep their cruising within Maltese territories, Miss Moneypenny, the third member of the fleet, is a deceptively spacious 49-foot long Sunseeker Portofino 46, with a huge deck area which is perfect for sunbathing. With a comfortable cruising speed of 24 knots, it sleeps four while berthed and two at sea, and has a licence for Maltese waters. The company is planning to add more boats to the fleet in the near future as the popularity of chartering yachts continues to gain traction.

In addition to yacht ownership, Azure Ultra also offers flexible member-exclusive options. These include the ability to exchange yacht usage with a choice of prestigious accommodation in prime locations around the world. Members also have the option of putting their entitlement into a charter pool, giving Azure the ability to charter yachts

to clients on their behalf, allowing them to generate income during periods when it’s not in use.

Besides its immediate plans to expand its fleet of luxury yachts, does Azure have any other ideas in the pipeline? “Azure is a wellestablished and highly respected facilitator in the luxury holiday and leisure industry,” Perry says. “We intend to remain so for many years to come, continuing to develop and expand our range of high-end products. Our challenge for the future will be catering to the ever more sophisticated, increasingly demanding holiday-makers and luxury leisure seekers. Azure is ready for that challenge and is determined to continue evolving and adapting to provide the highest quality service for all our clients.” cc

41

CC property

Property: What’s on the market?

Whether you’re looking for a new home or a smart investment, there are some brilliant properties out there at the moment. Here RE/MAX CEO Kevin Buttigieg talks through your options.

P

roperty is the name of the game in Malta right now. From apartments in modern blocks of flats to sprawling villas with their own landscaped gardens, there are limitless options – all dependant on what you have in mind and your reasons for buying.

“Malta’s property market is continuing to boom,” says RE/MAX CEO Kevin Buttigieg.

“This is definitely the right time for investment – whether you want to increase the size of your family home, or rent-to-buy as a future nest egg.”

When it comes to the properties that are most sought-after, Mr Buttigieg explains the variety. “Plots of land for building villas are 42

very much in demand, but they are also very scarce,” he says. “Special Designated Areas are particularly popular with foreigners because they promise a certain type of lifestyle, usually including communal pools, gardens and shops nearby. Of course others are also in demand, such as condominium complexes, seafront apartments, first-time buyer properties and apartments that can easily be rented out.”

He goes on to explain that Sliema and St Julian’s are still the most popular locations, largely because most SDAs are located there. “That said, we’ve come to realise that all areas of Malta are in demand, especially if the price is right. And that price varies APRIL / MAY 2016

CC property Skyparks and Smart City, the demand for residential buy-to-let opportunities has seen an increase in demand due to the many expats wanting to live in the south.”

There are also some new projects on the market, such as Q2 at Tigné Point. “RE/MAX has already sold 60 per cent of the 20 apartments that were on offer,” continues Mr Buttigieg. “Now Pender Gardens has just been launched, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom properties, and there’s another project by Gap Holdings opening in Mellieha with a further mix of 140 apartments all boasting fantastic views.

We’re pleased to say that around 2,500 units will be available in the north in the next five years or so, which is excellent as demand there is high. Gozo is also providing some exciting sales opportunities, although properties there are often snapped up almost immediately and many of the condominiums are already sold out.”

When it comes to rental investments, the results are still very good but they do vary.

“If you buy a one-bedroom apartment in Gzira, it will make a five-to-eight per cent return but its capital appreciation will be minimal,” Mr Buttigieg explains. “However, a two-bedroom flat in Sliema will give you a four-to-seven per cent return but the capital appreciation will be much bigger. The

annual return you get also depends on the apartment’s level of finishing and we find that renters are often willing to pay an extra €300 to €600 for luxury. Nevertheless, the results will always depend on the type of property you are looking to invest in.”

If you are a first-time buyer, then you will get some help to jump on the property ladder. “The first time buyers’ scheme is still going strong, and it helps because purchasers can avoid the stamp duty payable on a certain amount if it is their first property.”

Finally, Mr Buttigieg offers his advice to those thinking of making a commercial purchase. “Consider the location carefully,” he says. “Depending on what sort of business you are going into, we recommend really thinking about the parking available, the type of space that you need (for instance, whether it needs to be open plan or not), the finish and so on. Commercial property is really booming in Malta at the moment and now is certainly a good time to look at what’s out there and find the property that could really make your business a success.

“Get in touch with us – whether commercial or residential, leasing or buying, our team at RE/MAX has the experience to make the perfect match.” cc

“At RE/MAX we’ve come to realise that all areas of Malta are in demand, especially if the price is right.”

quite considerably; for an SDA, though, you’re looking at between €6,500 and €9,500 per square metre as the purchase price.”

Nevertheless the market is still led by locals, who make up for 75 per cent of all those buying on the island. “Expats are starting to buy more and more because rental prices increased whereas there is an opportunity to eventually rent out the property. This trend is also being seen from the commercial side of things where foreigners are also purchasing office space. Ultimately, it is the Maltese that are still driving the market, which is a good thing.”

“Areas of great potential besides the popular Sliema and St Julian’s are towns in the south, where office space is becoming more available. Thanks to business centres such as APRIL / MAY 2016

43

CC MEET THE ARTIST

An enduring talent Sarah Micallef talks art, life and dogs with renowned contemporary artist Debbie Caruana Dingli.

Photo by Inigo Taylor

Photo by Joe. P Borg

A

s I settle down on the sofa at Debbie Caruana Dingli’s charming home and studio in Siggiewi – incidentally one of my favourite villages; a love that is unsurprisingly shared by the artist – I am instantly made to feel at home. Debbie greets me warmly, and her three dogs form part of the welcoming committee, jostling for attention, hopping about around us. The walls are adorned with a colourful array of paintings by a variety of local artists including Celia Borg Cardona, Andrew Diacono and Tonio Mallia, as well as a few

by Debbie herself – a fitting environment for one of Malta’s most prominent contemporary artists, who has been surrounded by art her entire life.

“I was surrounded by art from an early age,” says Debbie, who comes from a family of artists. Her grandfather Robert Caruana Dingli and his brother Edward were major protagonists for art in Malta in the early 20th century, so it’s no surprise that it came naturally to Debbie. “It’s something I was naturally quite good at, enjoyed and which kept me busy for so many hours,” she recalls.

After graduating from the government school of art where she was taught by Harry Alden, Debbie was awarded a diploma in Cartooning by the International Correspondence School in the UK, and has been painting steadily since her first exhibition in 1985.

44

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC MEET THE ARTIST

“It was about watching people and how they behave with each other. My cartoons act as a sort of social commentary.”

Photos by Joe. P Borg

Asked to describe her technique and how it’s evolved since then, Debbie explains that she started off with pencil sketching before moving on to watercolours and proceeding to oils. “I’ve been painting a lot of spontaneous portraits in oils recently,” she says, explaining that she only allots herself three hours for these, from start to finish. Her current experimentation also extends to her tools, she continues, having tried her hand at painting with wooden spoons, cotton wool and even her toes!

Apart from portraits, which have become the artist’s bread and butter, Debbie Caruana Dingli is widely known for her unique cartoons. Their simplicity is deceiving – using satire to bring serious societal issues like illegal immigration and obesity to the fore.

“When I’m serious about something, I go into cartoons,” Debbie says, explaining that her messages relating to Maltese politics and way of life often come in cartoon form. She looks back on her 2002 exhibition, Games People Play, where she used watercolours

Photo by Inigo Taylor APRIL / MAY 2016

45

CC MEET THE ARTIST to convey an underlying message. “It was about watching people and how they behave with each other. My cartoons act as a sort of social commentary.”

But while her subject matter is largely people-centric – both when it comes to portraits and cartoons – Debbie has also come to be known for another type of portrait altogether: the pet portrait. Having three dogs of her own which she is clearly devoted to, the artist mainly paints dogs and cats, and admits that sometimes, they’re more fun to paint than people. “I love painting dog portraits because people are so nutty about their pets – the whole process is fun. I’ve gone to the SPCA fairs a few times and have had people sit with their pets for a quick watercolour, but for a proper portrait I’ll take lots of photos of the pet and then choose the right one,” she explains.

Speaking of her creative process, Debbie reveals that she’ll often get an idea for a painting while out on a run or dog walk, though inspiration can strike anywhere. “I love people-watching… either on the bus, or anywhere really. Siggiewi is great for that – I love this little village, and the people are so interesting.”

As for artists that inspire her, she immediately points to American artist John Singer Sargent, citing his “lovely play of brush”, and Expressionist Chaim Soutaine.

And while Debbie herself has been painting since she was three or four years old, the artistic trait inherited from her grandfather has also been passed on to her three sons. “My sons are all very artistic. My son George is an artist in his own right, living in London, though his style is very different to my own. He had his first solo exhibition aged 20 at Lily Agius Gallery, under the name George Eynaud – he never told a soul that he was

46

Photos by Joe. P Borg

my son! He wanted to do it his own way,” she says, with more than a touch of pride.

Looking back on her artistic career so far, Debbie feels there were many high points, but recalls feeling particularly nervous prior to Games People Play, in which she revealed her cartoons to the public for the first time.

“It was strange wondering whether people would take to these cartoons, and they really did,” she recalls.

Another notable moment was a series of paintings featuring immigrants as they reached Malta’s shores, back in 2008. Debbie sheds some light on the thought behind it, maintaining, “people were scared of what was happening. There were boatloads of Africans coming to Malta, and we didn’t really have many Africans living here at the time.

People panicked, and they weren’t getting any guidance. It led to a lot of racism, which is a result of fear and ignorance.

Photo by Inigo Taylor APRIL / MAY 2016

CC MEET THE ARTIST And now, she is busy putting the finishing touches on her latest collection, which she will be exhibiting jointly with Andrew Diacono at Art e Gallery in Gozo from 7th May. She tells me a bit about this series of six paintings, explaining that the idea stemmed from two books she was given last year. “One is on Veronese and the other is about Titian.

I was really transfixed by the colours and the characters in them, so I decided to take characters from these books and place them within today’s social context,” she says.

As an artist who was been painting professionally since 1985, does she have any words of wisdom for aspiring artists? “What

worked for me was giving myself regular working hours every day and sticking to them. Waiting for the muse doesn’t make sense. I notice that I can paint really good stuff on a day when I really don’t feel like it,” she advises.

As for her future plans, she’s already got another idea brewing, but is keeping mum for now! Besides that, she plans on continuing to give art classes at the Siggiewi Local Council where she gives students the opportunity to paint local volunteers, and to paint, of course – always to paint. “Art is in me,” she laughs, “I have no choice! I’d get very restless if I’m not painting.” cc

I wanted to put a human emotion to what was happening, so I decided to paint a series featuring immigrants landing in Malta. It was a very poignant moment – I exhibited and the images were used quite widely. I feel they captured a moment in time.”

Meanwhile, last year marked another milestone for Debbie, who was chosen as the first female artist to have a Bank of Valletta retrospective exhibition dedicated to her artistic career. She looks back on the experience as a special, yet challenging one, explaining, “we had to go through all my work, and a friend of mine, Francesca Balzan, wrote about me for the accompanying book.

I had to stop working from about a month before to borrow all the works, so it was a very nice thing to have but quite a big job too!”

Photo by Inigo Taylor

“I decided to take characters from these books and place them within today’s social context.”

Photos by Joe. P Borg

APRIL / MAY 2016

49

STYLE

Spring style

REVIEW

04. Dressed up denim

01. White chinos Now that the cold and dreary days of winter are behind us, it’s the time to bring out the white trousers. There’s something quite classic and chic about white chinos in the springtime, particularly when combined with navy or bright colours. Best paired with brown shoes and belt, they can also be pared down for a relaxed, weekend look by teaming them with a washed out denim or similarly light-coloured shirt.

02. Gingham One of spring 2016’s most prominent runway trends was gingham, but before you turn your nose up, this gingham is a far cry from little girls’ dresses and picnic blankets. This grownup version retains a touch of youth and whimsy while channelling a classier vibe thanks to finely tailored trousers and mid-length dresses.

Avoid anything too floaty for fear of looking a little too close to a picnic table for comfort.

Playing off the 1950s vintage-style trend that surfaced a couple of years ago, micro-pleats are feminine and smart all at the same time, and work perfectly on skirts and dresses for spring. Look to collections by Boss, Sonia Rykiel and Stella McCartney for inspiration – their modern shapes work beautifully with the unstructured drape of the pleats, which are flattering no matter what your body type.

01.

05. Knit mesh The modern sporty trend is big news come spring, and one of the most interesting textures to try is knit mesh. Add a sportswear inspired feel to your outfit by incorporating a mesh t-shirt or skirt – it also provides an excellent opportunity for layering and playing with colours, just be mindful not to go overboard with contrasting tones. Designers like Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Louis Vuitton pulled it off perfectly, if you’re looking for some styling hints!

06. Cuban collar The shirt style to rule them on when it comes to spring 2016 menswear is the 1950s style shirt with Cuban collar and short sleeves. Just in time for summer’s high temperatures, this lightweight style with a retro touch allows you to dress comfortably without sacrificing style, and retains a more ‘dressed up’ feel than a t-shirt or polo shirt. cc

02.

03.

M.i.h Jeans

06.

04.

APRIL / MAY 2016

Design Roadies

Victoria Beckham

03. Micro-pleats

For both men and women, denim has increasingly moved from casual to smart territories, and this spring it continues along this trajectory – adding interest with indigo printed patterns, subtle acid washing, and eyelet textures. Favoured silhouettes include wide leg jeans and high-waisted skirts, as seen on the runways at Chanel, Chloé and Tomas Maier.

Tome

Fresh spring trends and warm temperatures signal a necessary shift in our wardrobe.

Sarah Micallef takes a look at the ones to watch to keep your style on point.

Reiss

05.

Alexander Wang

51

STYLE

REVIEW

Office trends

02. Lounge areas

Sarah Micallef discovers the top trends and accessories that make up the modern workspace.

01. Multipurpose workspaces When you walk into a modern office, you rarely see cubicles any more, but beyond the replacement of cubicles with shared benches, the new trend for workspaces is non-assigned seating and multipurpose spaces. Rather than having an area with a fixed purpose, these casual work environments allow for a variety of uses from multimedia presentations to casual meetings. Larger, shared desks accommodating between four and six people are also on the rise, as well as height adjustable tables for standing meetings.

beliita.com

02.

curbed.com

01.

Apart from traditional work stations and desk areas, the modern office is increasingly making room for lounge areas which stimulate relaxed collaboration.

These dedicated lounge areas can make being in the office far more enjoyable, providing a comfortable spot to make a phone call, hold an informal tête-à-tête or take a breather with a cup of coffee.

03. Rustic transformed Rustic touches like salvaged wood are already widely used in home décor, coffee shops and trendy eateries, so it seems like a natural progression for the trend to move into the office. Interesting uses of palette wood and salvaged materials are the standout items here, either left in their natural state or painted to infuse a little fun and colour.

04. Glass boards The modern equivalent to the blackboard and the more design-oriented sister of the white board, glass boards are being increasingly used as chic brainstorming spaces in today’s offices. Sometimes, you need a visual representation of your thoughts – installing a glass board in your office, meeting area or boardroom will enable you to do just that, in a practical and stylish way. And when you’re ready? Just wipe it all away!

05. Concrete Raw, natural materials are really having a moment, spring boarding off the rustic trend in interior design. In the office, concrete details look fabulous in the form of lighting fixtures, desk accessories or planters, and provide a simple and beautiful design element that can take your space from drab to fab in seconds.

06. Clipboard

04.

05. altardstate.com

.com etsy

If clipboards conjure up memories of old school fieldtrips, trust me, you’re not alone. But recently, the humble clipboard is enjoying a new lease on life as a trendy design item. Whether used as a frame or to display a piece of artwork or inspirational message, or as a stylish way to keep your unruly mass of paperwork in one place, clipboards have gone from old fashioned practicality to stylish accessory right under our noses! cc officelovin.com

clarusglassboards.com

06.

52

03.

APRIL / MAY 2016

CHAMBER/65

NEWS Events & Initiatives

01.

01.

The Economics of (digital) Connections Welcoming members to the second Marketing Forum Event on 22nd January, Malta Chamber Director General Kevin Borg said that the Chamber does not only endeavour itself with issues of current and immediate importance, but also prides itself in providing its members with information and insights on the scenarios developing tomorrow.

Mr Borg was opening an event organised by the Marketing Committee within the Chamber, which featured a lecture by world renowned business consultant and visionary Reinhold Karner, titled The Economics of (digital) Connections. Louis Olivieri, Chairman of the Marketing Committee, also welcomed members present, giving a brief overview of the operation of the Marketing Committee and the reason behind the organisation of the event.

In his lecture, Mr Karner explained how 2015 was the year where digital business found its way into enterprise.

“The digital transformation is disrupting most industries, economies, jobs and lives faster than most people realise,” he said.

“Digital business is now growing fast across all industries,” he said, “as most analogue revenues flatten or even decline in many industries, businesses are shifting to a new source of growth: revenue from digital business, including the digitalisation of things. This will rock the business scenario to the core, and bring about unprecedented changes in the very near future.”

02.

Malta Chamber welcomes solid performance The Malta Chamber welcomed the solid performance reported in the European Commission’s Economic Winter Forecast published on 4th February. The report reconfirmed what the International Monetary Fund stated towards the end of January. In the report, the Commission reported that growth is forecasted to maintain a growth trend over 2016 and 2017 with Real GDP growing at 4.9 per cent last year, decreasing to 3.9 per cent this year and 3.4 per cent in 2017. The main engine of growth remained investment, especially machinery and equipment investment related to the power station extension project at Delimara and APRIL / MAY 2016

private consumption due to strong wage growth and record-low unemployment.

The Malta Chamber nevertheless contended the need to address the issues with the slowdown of export-led growth and the need to make our country’s proposition more attractive to foreign investors.

03.

Consultation on amendments to waste packaging regulations Members of the Malta Chamber’s Energy and Environment Committee participated in a public consultation session that focused on amendments being proposed to S.L. 504.37 – the Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations – organised

by MEUSAC in collaboration with the MSDEC and MEPA on 8th February 2016.

In order to implement the Budget 2016 measure on Waste Packaging Regulations, the amendments being proposed also include the introduction of a waste management fund, additional fees for producers and schemes falling short of recycling targets, fees for the granting of permits to producers and schemes, as well as fines to those who fail to register or renew their registration.

geographical characteristics of an island.

05.

Malta Chamber continues to voice concern on EU industrial policy The Malta Chamber has continued to voice its concern about the EU’s one-sizefits-all industrial policy which places Malta’s industrial base at a disadvantage due to its isolation and size when compared to much larger regions in the European Union. These concerns were voiced by the Manufacturing and Other Industries Economic Group Executive Board, who welcomed MEP Dr Alfred Sant at the Malta Chamber on 11th February.

The meeting was held in the wake of a European Parliament resolution (of 4th February) which made very pertinent proposals to the European Commission.

The resolution calls for the establishment of an EU Strategic Framework for Islands, and the launch of an in-depth study/ analysis on the extra costs incurred as a result of being an island, such as transport, energy and market access.

04.

Malta Chamber urges timely action following EP resolution

06.

10.8 per cent increase in registrations of super yachts welcomed by Yachting Services Business Section

The Malta Chamber welcomed a resolution of the European Parliament (EP) on 4th February urging “the European Commission to take concrete steps to address the permanent handicaps that EU islands face and make full use of their potential.”

To address the unique and vulnerable situations of EU islands, the resolution voted on in the EP called on the Commission to address the unique and vulnerable situation of EU islands by, most notably; (i) setting up a homogenous group made up of all island territories, which recognises the permanent handicaps of insular regions; (ii) taking account of statistical indicators other than GDP, which better reflect the economic and social vulnerability of these regions; (iii) launching a study on the costs incurred as a result of the

“The development of the yachting industry in Malta had experienced gigantic leaps over the past years – Malta had become a ‘go to’ destination for yachting both as a flag and also for logistical and legal advantages,” said Dr Alison Vassallo, Chairman of the Yachting Services Business Section, as she welcomed guests for a social event at the Malta Chamber on 18th February.

Dr Vassallo said that the previous week, Transport Malta had announced that the Malta flag had registered an increase of 10.8 per cent over the previous year in the registration of super yachts of over 24 metres in length. The Malta flag is the largest in number worldwide in so far as commercial yachts over 24 metres in length are concerned.

06.

57

CC news

07.

Malta Chamber welcomes diversification of financial services sector The Malta Chamber welcomed recent developments at the Malta Stock Exchange which seek to continue diversifying Malta’s offering in the financial services sector. The Chamber believes that Malta’s well-established reputation as a centre of excellence in the financial services industry requires constant innovation and tapping into new sectors.

Islamic Finance is one such sector, and the Middle East Business Council and the Financial Services Executive Committee within the Malta Chamber welcome the news that The Malta Stock Exchange is to launch a Shariah-compliant equity index. The Middle East Business Council has, together with Finance Malta, been working hard to deliver the message that Malta is “open for business” and to create visibility for Malta in the region.

08.

Good governance is not an option – it is a must In a Press Release to the media, the Malta Chamber expressed its deep preoccupation with the fact that no real action has been taken since it recently declared that successive governments have stood silent before “cases of flagrant abuse, bad management, dubious decision processes, conflicts of interest and outright lack of coordination between different elements of the public sector.”

The country must, at all costs, avoid any risk that business and investment will be affected by the ensuing uncertainty and reputational issues. For this reason, the Chamber has always actively advocated full

09. transparency and integrity by all persons in public office. In view of the current developments, and in the interest of growth and jobs, the need to take swift and concrete action is now of utmost urgency.

09.

Reform to Perform In its latest Reform Barometer titled ‘Reform to Perform’, which was launched during the annual BUSINESSEUROPE day held on 3rd March in Brussels, it was noted that though 2015 was a challenging year characterised by the immigration crisis and a degree of instability in the financial markets, the EU’s economies continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace than hoped for.

“The challenges facing the European Union can be more easily met if we have a strong economy,” said President Emma Marcegaglia and DG Markus J. Beyrer in their joint foreword. The EU needs to recover lost ground, as the slow economic recovery coupled with a difficult 2015, meant that global markets such as China, India, Canada and the US outperformed the EU average.

BUSINESSEUROPE day was attended by the President of the Malta Chamber Anton Borg and DG Kevin J. Borg. The programme included discussions on the key global challenges and opportunities in global business and conquering competitiveness in times of change.

12.

58

10.

6.3 per cent economic growth welcomed The Malta Chamber welcomed the 6.3 per cent GDP growth registered in 2015, as published by the NSO, especially in the context of neighbouring countries and fellow EU member states.

However, a deeper analysis of the registered growth is warranted, in order to understand which sectors are contributing to this positive trend and which require attention. Substantial growth was registered in the Financial Services sector (10.4 per cent), Arts and Recreation which includes Remote Gaming (5.4 per cent), and ICT (7.3 per cent).

On the other hand, Manufacturing, which employs thousands of people and which is essential for the country’s export, registered a negative growth of 0.4 per cent. A separate statistic also sounds an alarm in this sector as it says that Manufacturing decreased by 8.1 per cent in January 2016 when compared to the same month the previous year.

While the rate of 6.3 per cent growth is very encouraging, the Malta Chamber warns against any type of complacency. The country needs to continue to sustain and improve its competitiveness at all costs.

11.

Local ICT entrepreneurs key partners in Mobile Government Strategy During a meeting held between Chairman of the ICT Business Section within the Malta Chamber Francois Grech and MITA Executive Chairman Tony Sultana, the latter confirmed that a Mobile Government Strategy will be published by end of 2016 and reiterated that local ICT entrepreneurs have a crucial role in the development and implementation of the Mobile Government Strategy.

The ultimate objective is that of enabling mobility within the public service, and making public and national services more accessible through mobile technology.

Mr Sultana said, “shifting to mobile technology is the way forward to keep government ICT services relevant”.

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC news

15.

“Maltese and foreign workers must receive equal treatment”

14.

12.

Migration could be part of solution to skills gap “We would be foolish not to tap into the abundance of new talent that has suddenly become available to potentially boost our continent’s economy. We should be taking stock of the skills and competences arriving on our shores and matching them to the gaps in the local, regional and national labour markets,” said Chamber President Anton Borg while addressing the Tripartite Social Summit on 16th March, tackling ‘Integrating refugees into the labour market’.

Mr Borg said that contrary to acting as a burden on our society, this approach will offer migrants a sense of purpose and an opportunity to grow in life; providing for their families, while simultaneously reducing skill mismatches. “Of the thousands of human lives seeking refuge in Europe, we must ensure that those who are eligible to stay obtain the skills required to make a smooth transition into the labour market,” he noted.

The session was addressed by the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

14.

Deeper analysis warranted Opening a dialogue session with the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Christian Cardona which was held on 28th March, Malta Chamber President Anton Borg stressed the importance of caution especially in the context of extraordinary and favourable news of economic expansion.

“We acknowledge that the economy, in general, is achieving impressive results.

Indeed, the 6.3 per cent GDP growth rate in real terms registered in 2015 is quite extraordinary, particularly in the context of the situation in neighbouring countries and fellow EU member states,” Anton Borg said. “However, we believe that this result warrants a deeper analysis. Manufacturing, which employs thousands of people and which is essential for the country’s exports, registered a negative growth of 0.4 per cent.

This may not seem material in itself but the negative trend is still there,” Mr Borg noted.

Members who were present also had the opportunity to field questions to Minister Cardona, on matters of concern to their businesses.

Addressing the 168th Annual General Meeting of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry on 28th March, President Anton Borg asked members to ensure equal treatment between Maltese and foreign workers.

“Only in this way can we ensure integration of foreign workers amongst us and reap the full economic benefit of immigration towards Malta’s economic and social development,” he said. Mr Borg explained how integrating refugees into the labour market can not only contribute to filling the gap in certain skills, but can lower the average age of Europe’s workforce and help solve the pensions crisis that exists in most European countries.

While countries must not tolerate radicalism or allow it to become mainstream, “we must ensure that we provide protection to those who really need it and in so doing ensure that social cohesion remains at the heart of our economic progress,” the President said. Mr Borg continued to update the well-attended Annual General Meeting with the main achievements of the previous 12 months which marked his first year as President.

“We look forward to continue to relay your opinions and offer our suggestions and solutions to the authorities with a view to contributing to the competitiveness and prosperity of our nation. We will be doing this by means of our prompt, genuine, objective and meaningful opinions which we submit at every opportunity presented to us on your behalf,” he concluded.

13.

Obesity needs to be fought by other means On behalf of the Manufacturing and other Industries and Importers, Distributors and Retailers Economic Groups, the Malta Chamber expressed its concerns with the announcement of the UK government to impose a discriminatory special tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks in 2018.

Indeed, there is no evidence to suggest a tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks would successfully reduce obesity rates. It has been demonstrated time and again that such initiatives are merely a financial burden for consumers – in particular those with low incomes – without either improving public health or reducing obesity rates.

APRIL / MAY 2016

15.

61

CC news

16.

Malta Chamber expresses solidarity with terror victims In the wake of the tragic events that took place in Brussels on 22nd March, the Malta Chamber through its Director General Kevin J. Borg expressed its unreserved condemnation of the barbaric happenings, while offering thoughts of solidarity with Brussels-based organisations it is affiliated with, namely BUSINESSEUROPE and EUROCHAMBRES. In his correspondence to Markus J. Beyrer, Director General of BUSINESSEUROPE, and Arnaldo Abruzzini, Director General of EUROCHAMBRES, Kevin J. Borg forwarded the thoughts of the Board and staff of the Malta Chamber at this difficult time.

17.

Workshop for yachting sector Members operating in the yachting sector had the opportunity to attend a workshop on Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) Compliance for the Yachting Sector on 23rd March. The workshop was organised by the Executive Committee of the Yachting Services Business Section in collaboration with the Malta Maritime Law Association (MMLA) and Transport Malta.

19.

18.

18.

“EU should incentivise companies to grow rather than act as a stumbling block” Addressing a round table organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Malta Chamber President Anton Borg said that EU institutions must incentivise companies, particularly those coming from smaller, periphery member states, to grow, rather than act as a stumbling block to their operations.

He was addressing a high level meeting which brought together leaders from the EU institutions, European business organisations and national business representatives.

Mr Borg made his intervention based on personal and practical experiences he encounters as an entrepreneur and in running an SME. He commented on the importance of having smart and effective regulations that would incentivise companies to grow. Mr Borg stated that companies should not be discriminated against based on the type of investment undertaken. This eventually hinders jobs and growth, which goes against the political objectives of the European Commission.

The meeting was hosted by President of the EESC Employer’s Group Jacek Krawczyk.

19.

A strong platform for the maritime industry Malta Marittima, a collaboration between Government and the private sector, was launched on 13th April, with the aim of bringing industry and Government stakeholders together to focus and promote the continued and enhanced development of the marine and maritime industries in the Maltese islands.

The Malta Chamber, together with Malta Maritime Forum and the Malta Maritime Law Association shall be joining several Government stakeholders to provide a strong platform of collaboration for all matters relating to the Maritime industry.

Addressing the launch on behalf of the Malta Chamber, Matthew E. Sullivan said that the Malta Chamber is strongly in favour of the establishment of Malta Marittima, as this would allow Government and business to reach goals that otherwise would not be achievable.

20.

EEN Services & Retail Sector Group Meeting held in Malta The Malta Chamber, as part of the Enterprise Europe Network, actively participated in a Services and Retail

20.

62

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC news

Sector Group Meeting that was held in Malta between 14th and 15th April.

The Sector Group is a delegation of business experts from various countries that come together to offer tailored support for services and retail companies with the aim of helping them innovate and grow internationally.

21.

ICT Business Section meets MITA Executive Chairman Members of the Malta Chamber’s ICT Business Section met MITA Executive Chairman Tony Sultana to discuss Government plans for E-mobility services as well an update on the Procurement Outlook.

Members were presented with the plan for development of the Mobile Government Strategy. Following an MoU signed with the United Arab Emirates in February 2016, the Strategy was to be developed by MITA in full consultation with the main stakeholders.

22.

Chamber determined to influence business priorities for Malta’s EU Presidency Welcoming the President of the Employers Group within the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Jacek Krawczyk, Malta Chamber President

22.

Anton Borg outlined the Chamber’s role in determining the business priorities for Malta’s upcoming EU Presidency.

Mr Krawczyk, who was accompanied by EESC Group 1 Vice President Stefano Mallia, was visiting as part of a series of meetings with the Chamber in preparation for the events that will be organised during 2017.

Mr Borg spoke about the issue of competitiveness, and said that there is a strong business consensus on the ambitious reforms needed at EU level to boost jobs and growth, supplemented by ongoing structural reforms at a domestic level.

23.

Malta Chamber makes recommendations on billboards Legal Notice The Malta Chamber has made a series of recommendations for amendments to the Legal Notice regulating billboards

and advertisements. The recommendations which were sent to the Parliamentary Secretariat responsible for the matter are the result of a focus group which the Chamber held on 18th April with members from a variety of sectors which are directly affected by the LN 103 of 2016.

This was the latest installment in a long week of developments on an issue that threatened to affect businesses very directly.

Throughout the week, the Malta Chamber continued to follow the issue closely, as it noted a step forward on Government’s part in re-thinking its plans as a result of the Chamber’s timely arguments. Government confirmed to the Chamber that the €1,500, will only be applicable to billboards. The Chamber however made it clear that this was not enough, as the fee of €1,500 on billboards would only serve to increase expenses to businesses without necessarily improving the environmental considerations and standards relating to billboards.

CHAMBER/65

NEWS Internationalisation

01.

The German Maltese Business Council meet the German Ambassador in Malta

02.

Meeting with candidates for Honorary Consuls of Malta in Turkey

On 18th February, the committee members of the German Maltese Business Council (GMBC) met with new German Ambassador in Malta Gudrun Maria Sraga at the Malta Chamber. Ms Sraga was accompanied by Olaf Rieck, Head Economic Affairs at the German Embassy.

Armin Eckermann, Chairman of the GMBC introduced the business council and the committee members.

He then gave a brief overview of the past events that have been organised by the GMBC in collaboration with the German Embassy, underlining the support and assistance that the German Embassy always gave to the GMBC.

On 18th February, Internationalisation Executive Lina El-Nahhal met with Sinan Ozer and Mehmet Derya Adiguzel, candidates for Honorary Consuls of Malta and Turkey. Ms

APRIL / MAY 2016

El-Nahhal spoke about the Chamber and its structure. She also spoke about the Maltese Turkish Business Council and the interest in the Turkish market by Maltese companies.

The meeting discussed the visit to Turkey which took place last September as well the Chamber’s plans to organise a company mission to Turkey in May as part of Enterprise Europe Network.

01.

65

CC news

03.

04.

03.

Potential for more collaboration with Albania underlined Addressing the Albania-Malta Business Forum during a state visit to Albania, Malta Chamber President Anton Borg said that the excellent relations between Malta and Albania have great potential to develop on a business-to-business level. “The modest levels of trade that exist between two countries can only mean one thing – that a lot more stands to be gained and our trade relationship is ripe with potential for growth,” he said.

Anton Borg was accompanying President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca on a state visit to Albania on 17th February organised by Trade Malta.

Mr Borg said that Malta and Albania could collaborate on a number of sectors which the Malta Chamber outlined in its Economic Vision for Malta 2014-2020. These areas were flagged for immense potential for growth, and were seen as ideal for investment. Conversely, Malta has world-class professionals and entrepreneurs who have built solid economic niches from the ground up, who are more than willing to offer their expertise and help achieve similar ambitious goals in Albania.

04.

Vietnam ripe for collaboration Welcoming members to Doing Business with Vietnam, on 11th March, Malta Chamber Vice President Tonio Casapinta said that trade statistics between Malta and Vietnam showed the extent of opportunity for collaboration that exists between the two countries.

He said that in 2014, Malta’s imports from Vietnam amounted to around €2.5 million whereas Malta’s exports amounted to around €900,000. “This shed light on the importance of providing more exposure to the opportunities that our two countries can offer each other – and this event has precisely this aim,” Mr Casapinta said.

Taking the floor, David G. Curmi, Chairman of Trade Malta, said that Malta offered more than a pleasant holiday for tourists. He said that Malta is home to very innovative companies that operate in challenging sectors such as engineering, software development and financial services.

The event was organised by the newly set up Asia Pacific Business Council within the Malta Chamber in collaboration with Trade Malta, and supported by HSBC Bank.

05.

German businesses keep Stammtisch tradition

05.

Malta-based German businesses kept their annual appointment and organised Stammtisch at the Malta Chamber on 8th March. Members were addressed by the Ambassador of Germany in Malta, H.E. Gudrun Maria Sräga, while Armin Eckermann, Chairman of the German Maltese Business Council chaired the event.

06.

The gathering also included a presentation on robotics by Tim Kriegeskorte, the Operations Manager at IBG Automation, and a presentation on Enterprise Europe Network by Lino Mintoff, Head of Projects and Internationalisation Desk.

Stammtisch was organised by the German Embassy in Malta, in collaboration with the German Maltese Business Council.

A Stammtisch, which roughly translates to ‘regulars’ table’, is an informal group meeting, traditionally round a table to discuss matters in a friendly manner.

06.

MOU opens avenues of collaboration with Kosovo “Malta and Kosovo can collaborate on various levels, as we can share knowledge on numerous areas that have experienced tremendous growth in Malta,” said Malta Chamber President Anton Borg as he welcomed the President of the Republic of Kosovo H.E. Atifete Jahjaga, and the President of the Republic of Malta H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Malta Chamber and the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Borg went on to explain that in the recent past, Malta has gone through an unprecedented economic boom, registering 6.3 per cent economic growth for 2015.

The signing was followed by an Institutional Meeting between Kosovo and Malta which was addressed by the Kosovo Minister for Trade and Industry Hykmete Bajrami and the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Christian Cardona.

07.

Opportunities in the Middle East A round table meeting organised by the Malta Chamber’s Middle East Business Council brought together stakeholders as well as interested members to discuss issues relating to collaboration and internationalisation towards Middle Eastern countries.

Key players like Trade Malta, Finance Malta, the Ambassador to Oman and Iran H.E. Joe Mangion and the Ambassador Designate to the United Arab Emirates H.E. Emmanuel

66

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC news

Mazzitelli participated in the meeting.

The Middle East Business Council reported on the goals achieved since its inception, which include the participation and facilitation of a number of trade delegation missions to the Middle East, and the building of fruitful rapports with local Chambers of Commerce in the region.

08.

MOU with Jordan Chamber signed A Memorandum of Understanding between the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce was signed on 12th April, in a bid to bring the two business communities closer.

President Anton Borg said that this Memorandum of Understanding would be a solid basis on which to promote business collaborations between the two countries.

“This business delegation helped underline the numerous commonalities which are shared between Malta and Jordan and that can be developed for the mutual benefit of both sides. Our two countries can bring specific elements to the table that may

08. be useful to the other,” Mr Borg said.

Malta Chamber President Anton Borg was accompanying Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on a business mission to Jordan and Lebanon. Mr Borg also formed part of the delegation to Lebanon.

Addressing a business forum in Lebanon, Mr Borg said that the development of a diversified economy in Malta, which is responding to the challenges of an ever-increasingly globalised world, has brought about a record GDP growth of 6.3 per cent in 2015 – a statistic that resonates the hard work of our sterling entrepreneurial class, and the pro-business environment which Malta enjoys.

“Our Chamber is committed to sustain and promote the excellent relations

between Malta and Lebanon, for the mutual benefit of both sides. I am pleased to once again endorse the efforts of Malta’s Government to bring our two nations closer and promote business collaboration and a fruitful future,” Mr Borg concluded.

09.

Meeting with Ambassador of Mexico to Malta On 8th April, President of the Malta Chamber Anton Borg met with H.E. Juan José Guerra Abud, Ambassador of Mexico in Rome.

Mr Borg welcomed Mr Guerra Abud to the Malta Chamber and gave a brief introduction of the Chamber’s history and structure. Mr Borg also presented Mr Guerra Abud with a copy of the Chamber’s Economic Vision.

Mr Guerra Abud believes that business relations are key to strengthening the relationship between Mexico and Malta. He added that there is a lot of scope for business with Mexico that Malta is unaware of, and vice versa.

10.

Malta Chamber attends top FDI conference in Dubai

09.

10.

68

The Malta Chamber attended the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM 2016) held in Dubai, which is one of the most celebrated conferences and exhibitions connecting top Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) investors, experts, and practitioners in the world. The theme of the conference was The New World of FDI, Key Features and Best Practices, and it focused on the changes in the business landscape over the course of the year and what new forms of investment have become available.

The Malta Chamber was represented at the conference by Deputy President Frank V. Farrugia and Vice President Tonio Casapinta. The conference presented a focus on new policies that are being implemented. The event sought to identify legislation that will help stimulate local economies through new investment opportunities. Additionally, best practices for the industry and some of the developments on the horizon were debated. cc APRIL / MAY 2016

CC INTERVIEW

Addressing challenges through opportunities: Representing businesses in the EU As the Malta Business Bureau celebrates 20 years since its formation, outgoing president Mario Spiteri talks Jo Caruana through the organisation’s role, highlights and plans for the future.

W

Photos by Inigo Taylor

e all remember the days before Malta’s European Union accession.

A bit like the weeks in the run-up to the island’s adoption of the euro in 2008, we all had questions about how things would work once we joined the EU. And nowhere were those questions more prevalent than within the local business community.

It was the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) that helped to answer some of those questions and guide businesses through the potential minefield of bringing their company in line with EU laws, and this was achieved successfully.

“The MBB has always been about EU focus,” explains Mario Spiteri, the MBB’s outgoing president. “The then Malta Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Industry co-founded the MBB in 1996. Its original purpose was to support Government by providing the Maltese business position during the negotiation period leading to Malta’s EU membership, and likewise to prepare the business community as to what this actually meant for their daily operations and prospects for the future.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

71

CC INTERVIEW

“Our role is an advisory one and our focus shifts depending on what we feel is most important for Maltese businesses at any one time.”

72

Thus, in the 20 years since it was set up, the MBB has guided Maltese business owners through the many developmental stages that have taken place, and is still evolving and building on its role today.

“There have been so many milestones,” Mr Spiteri continues. “Aside from the legislation that surrounded the accession itself, there was the adoption of the euro in 2008 and, of course, the many ongoing developments linked to the constant stream of EU legislation that is introduced every year.”

There are many key issues currently on the EU agenda too. “I would say that our main focus at the moment are topics related to the economy in general, particularly through European Commission action plans related to the Single and Digital Single Market strategies, the Capital Markets Union, the Energy Union and the Social Agenda.

Our role is an advisory one and our focus shifts depending on what we feel is most important for Maltese businesses at any one time.”

Mr Spiteri, who runs a number of businesses of his own in the travel, tourism, real estate and insurance sectors, has been on the MBB board for eight years and was appointed president two years ago. During his time leading the organisation, several projects have been launched successfully.

“The first was the setting up of Zaar, Malta’s first crowdfunding platform,” explains Mr Spiteri. “It was launched as a joint venture between MBB and the University of Malta to fill a void that the business community has felt for some time – access to finance for micro enterprises and start-ups. Through our research on the topic, it became clear to us that non-bankable business propositions were being left out in the cold, and we felt that this warranted the creation of a crowdfunding solution to help them get on their feet before looking for other financing solutions to scale-up.

The result was Zaar.com.mt, and it has now been launched and a number of Maltese projects have since been funded successfully. We look forward to achieving more on this front as well as evolve the financing product further in the near future.”

The MBB has also focused its efforts on the development of a coherent lobbying strategy. “Our board member Dr John Vassallo, who will succeed me as MBB president, has really used his expertise as an international lobbyist to help us make excellent headway on this matter.

As a team we have learnt how important it is to focus on making small changes that make a difference in an upcoming legislation, as this is the best way to achieve results for local businesses.”

To further explain this point, Mr Spiteri uses the example of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that through one of its provisions could have imposed that every business must have a data protection officer to operate.

“Can you imagine how that would have affected micro businesses?” he asks. “So, through our lobbying efforts, together with others, we were able to fight for certain exclusions to be added the statute books, thus protecting many Maltese companies from a considerable burden.

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC INTERVIEW

“We will of course remain as proactive as possible on all the aspects that help Maltese businesses get closer to the EU, and help them to benefit from it as much as possible.”

Once a law is passed it is much harder to change, so it’s vital that we, as MBB, lobby the most important points while the laws are still in the pipeline.”

And, beyond their lobbying and crowdfunding projects, the MBB has also recently tapped into the Design for Europe Network. “This is a European Commissionfunded programme to support designdriven innovation across Europe. It is based on the idea that, to remain globally competitive, Europe’s economy needs to grow, and this is possible through innovation.

“Thus, through a combination of events, online knowledge-sharing and networking, this network is raising awareness of the value of design, and the MBB was nominated as Malta’s ambassador for this project. So far we have held a very well-attended seminar locally to raise awareness, and we are very pleased with the results. We will be taking this initiative further in the months to come.”

Finally, and aside from its daily ‘bread and butter work’ based on reacting to the latest policy and legislation from Brussels, the MBB has also focused firmly on training.

“In the last year, for instance, we organised nine workshops linked to three different EU funding programmes, namely Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe. All three sets of workshops, which were organised as part of our Innovation Leaders Programme and funded through the European Social Fund, were very well attended by businesses and helped to shed light on some specific funding programmes that are available through the EU. The training was organised in conjunction with the European Projects Association. We believe the workshops were very fruitful and that seeds have been sown to help a number of businesses materialise projects through direct EU funding in the future.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

Now, with its eye firmly on the future of business in Malta, the MBB will continue to extrapolate on its recent achievements.

“From a lobbying perspective we have outlined four legislative areas that are of particular interest for us to look into, namely geo-blocking, services passport, business insolvency and corporate taxation,” continues Mr Spiteri, adding that he has been asked to stay on the MBB board as a member once his term as president is complete.

“We will of course remain as proactive as possible on all the aspects that help Maltese businesses get closer to the EU, and help them to benefit from it as much as possible.

“From a personal perspective, it has been very exciting to lead the MBB for the past two years and I look forward to handing the reins over to Dr John Vassallo in the weeks to come. I am sure the MBB’s next 20 years will be as fruitful as its past,” he adds. cc 75

CC EDUCATION

The art of CPD The world of work is more competitive than ever and it’s your responsibility to keep up. Here, Jo Caruana asks two Continued Professional Development experts for their advice on how you can best develop your skills to excel in your career path.

N

o matter where we are in our lives or careers, we never stop learning.

In fact, it’s exciting to think that there could be an opportunity out there to learn a new skill or gain a new qualification and, since the boom of the adult learning industry, the sky’s the limit.

The term CPD, or continued professional development, was coined to encourage workers to develop their expertise within their individual role and help them maintain that necessary edge throughout their career.

After all, CPD could be the clincher that helps you to remain competitive in your

APRIL / MAY 2016

industry, or could help you to move up the ladder into a position that better suits your life today – as opposed to the life that you had when you first joined your industry.

Regardless of what you do, it could really set you apart and help to secure your success into the future.

“Training and career development is vital for every employee in every organisation that aims to keep moving forward,” says Marvin Cuschieri, the director general for the Foundation of Human Resources Development (FHRD). “There are so many benefits. For starters, a properly trained employee becomes more informed about

procedures and becomes more effective so as to lead the company to an increase in organisational performance. It’s vital to remember that most of today’s top jobs did not exist a decade or so ago. Hence, the need for workers to boost their knowledge is becoming all the more important in today’s fast-paced world.”

Agreeing, Mark Ransley, the managing director and principal at the EEC-ITIS Malta Tourism and Languages Institute, explains that CPD training can ensure that professionals themselves are at the forefront as the catalysts for change, setting up new trends to enhance the value of their sector.

77

CC EDUCATION “Through CPD, professionals can become aware of today’s industry challenges and recognise which tools are needed to enhance the customer experience,” he says. “At EEC-ITIS Malta we continuously develop new tools and identify promising practices to aid professionals deal with daily situations in order to remain competitive in an evergrowing internationalised market.”

Mr Ransley explains that, in the 15 years his company has been operating in the education sector, he has seen how Malta’s industry needs have evolved at a very fast pace. “Whilst the theoretical elements remain largely the same, the way that we apply customer service skills, public relations, communication skills and human resources have changed because of new market realities such as globalisation, EU membership and funding opportunities, the rise of social media and more sensitisation and

awareness on gender issues, diversity management and corporate social responsibility,” he says. “Customers’ mentalities and attitudes have changed and it is vital for both companies and individuals to keep up.”

And the really good news is that CPD needn’t be about ‘book learning’ and it doesn’t have to dredge up terrifying memories of school and exams. On the contrary, CPD training is often very hands-on, thus mirroring a real-world work environment.

“Prior to every CPD course, our trainers carry out a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) exercise with participants.

Very often we collaborate with corporate clients and, prior to the commencement of the training, we discuss the challenges that they’re facing in order to establish the training needs and objectives.

Following the TNA, we go through a research phase to develop the training

kit. We often conduct desk research, mystery shopping, surveys, or custommade quantitative and qualitative research to establish a sound background context. Training is then delivered based on these outcomes.”

Much like the idea of training itself, Mr Ransley explains that their training methods have regularly been revamped over the years. “Rather than having lecture-style sessions, we are continuously interested in developing simulation exercises, coaching and mentoring as part of our CPD training in order to provide more specialised training aids that directly tackle the challenges identified in the TNA exercise with the client. Courses are either taught in-class or online, and we tend to use a range of online based tools which the client can also access prior to or after the training session for a continuous enhanced training experience. At the end of every training session a post-evaluation is carried out in order to assess the outcomes of the training and determine the participant’s learning curve,” he explains.

And when it comes to selecting the right course for you, Mr Ransley stresses that it’s vital to choose wisely. “Start by carrying out a self-assessment exercise to analyse your strongest and weakest skills. Then, find a training course that is as custommade as possible, and ask whether a TNA will be carried out to ensure that you really have found the right course to address your needs.”

Finally, Mr Cuschieri also offers advice to anyone considering educational CPD. “If you think you have reached the top of your career, think again. Yes, after years of hard work, you may have secured your position within your organisation, but now more than ever in business, it is so important to keep learning and to stay current. Lifelong learning generates new ideas, and helps you to get the best from yourself and your co-workers while simultaneously boosting your confidence through training and development.

It’s vital to remember that most of today’s top jobs did not exist a decade or so ago, so ongoing training is very important.” Marvin Cuschieri, CEO, Foundation of Human Resources Development (FHRD) 78

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC EDUCATION

“Through CPD, professionals become aware of today’s industry challenges and recognise which tools are needed to enhance the customer experience.”

Mark Ransley, managing director and principal, EECITIS Malta Tourism and Languages Institute

“With today’s life pressures, there is never really the perfect moment to start your education again. Probably one of the most frequently asked questions by potential students considering a training course with us is: Will I be able to handle both my job and studies at the same time?

The answer is yes. It might not be easy but it is manageable. Good planning and prioritising tasks will keep you on top of things. At the end of the day the degree to which you will succeed depends on you and only you.

“So, if you feel you’ve slowed your learning or stopped completely, or even if you’re simply eager for a new challenge, now is definitely the right time to kickstart that again. Who knows where it could lead?” he concludes. cc APRIL / MAY 2016

81

Fabulous food

FOOD&WINE

First there was the ramen burger, and now there’s the sushi burger. The latest in Asian-inspired burger adaptations, the sushi burger comprises a bun made out of sticky rice, lettuce, Japanese mayo, special sauce and the filling of your choice.

This fresh take on the burger which melds Japanese and US food trends was first introduced by aptly named Melbourne restaurant, Sushi Burger, which serves 18 tempting variations, including teriyaki chicken, tuna and prawn tempura.

Sarah Micallef discovers hot new ingredients and the revival of some much-loved classics.

01. Are pasta’s days numbered?

While it may come as a surprise, particularly among the Maltese who love their pasta, over the last five years, pasta sales have dropped eight per cent in Australia, 13 per cent in Europe and an astonishing 25 per cent in Italy, its home country. As people focus more on proteins and continue to shed carbs, carb-rich pasta is beginning to fall out of favour, and even those who do incorporate carbs into their diet, nowadays it’s more likely to be in the form of more nutritious alternatives like quinoa, chickpeas, lentils, spelt, barley and chia. And if you miss the feel of pasta, well, there’s an alternative for that too – veggies like zucchini, asparagus, beets and sweet potatoes are being cut into ribbons and topped with sauce as a healthy pasta replacement.

Photo: foodgawker.com

04. The latest in the burger craze

What with diet fads like the Atkins diet and the gluten-free movement, bread has been getting a pretty bad rap in recent years, but not for much longer. Bread is set to enjoy a revival as ancient grain-containing loaves made with healthier ingredients gain popularity. Trendy breads like artisan toasts, bagels and babka are also doing their bit to champion the bread revival, with gourmet pizzas and flatbreads going on to further boost interest by chefs and restaurants.

02. Oatmeal gets a makeover

Photo: pureella.com

05. Bread makes a comeback

01.

06. Introducing ube

Oatmeal might not sound like the sexiest thing in the world, but it’s looking to get a makeover this year. Forget traditional add-ons like maple syrup and brown sugar, oatmeal is getting a new and interesting treatment in US eateries.

From coconut milk and hazelnut granola to roasted fig sides, oatmeal suddenly seems a whole lot more interesting.

Filipino cuisine is becoming a serious trend among foodies, and while it’s likely you’ve never heard of ube before, that’s set to change. The vibrant purple variant of the sweet potato is a widely used ingredient in Filipino cooking, and is appearing on everything from doughnuts and ice cream to cheesecake in 2016. cc

02.

Photo: wildfoodism.com

03. Water, water, everywhere

04.

03.

Photo: readcereal.com

Up until a couple of years ago, water was just that… water. But a trip to your local supermarket today will yield a lot more varieties, owing to one of the latest fads to hit the food world – water sourced from all sorts of previously overlooked avenues. But we’re not simply talking coconut water here! Some of the more interesting varieties include maple water, cactus water and birch tree water, not to mention Artesian water bottled in New Zealand and black premium alkaline water that is an interesting shade of well, black!

Photo: glutenfreealchemist.com

Photo: theflavorbender.com

05.

APRIL / MAY 2016

06.

83

CC INTERVIEW

EU: The Commission’s mission In light of her recent appointment as head of the European Commission’s Representation in Malta, Jo Caruana interviews Dr Elena Grech to establish her thoughts on the Union’s priorities in the coming years.

T

he EU is facing some of its biggest challenges to date. From the issue of migration to the potential fallout from Britain’s ‘Brexit’ referendum, these are trying times for the Union that has helped to ensure nearly 60 years of stability across its borders.

However this is also a time of hope, as EU leaders and technocrats strive to push through so as to retain that unity. Here in Malta, one of those protagonists is Dr Elena Grech, who was appointed head of the European Commission’s Representation in Malta in January this year.

The European Commission is one of the EU’s main institutions and is involved in the EU’s legislative process together with

APRIL / MAY 2016

the European Council and the European Parliament.

“The EC is equivalent to the administrative arm within a government,” explains Dr Grech. “As employees of the EC, we are all civil servants and our main role is to propose legislation to the Council and the Parliament, which it is then up to them to adopt or not. As an institution we do not have a role in the adoption process itself beyond the initial preparatory stage.

Instead, we are focused on ensuring that all the relevant sides come to a compromise while still meeting the scope of the original draft legislation.”

EC representation offices exist in all member states, with two offices in some

“The Commission’s main drive will be to organise events and activities that highlight President Juncker’s ten priorities.”

85

CC INTERVIEW of the larger ones, like Italy. “Our scope is, primarily, one of communication, meaning that everything that goes on in Brussels should be transmitted to the citizens of each country to explain the Union’s purposes, benefits, priorities and why certain legislation is being proposed.”

However, Dr Grech goes on to explain that since Jean-Claude Juncker’s appointment as EU Commission President in 2014, the Representation has also taken on a more political role.

“We are now tasked with reporting back to Brussels on what is happening in our member state, especially when it comes to issues that have not been reported in the media. We have to be able to relay the real version of events.”

The local EU Commission Representation has recently undergone some developments. Prior to Dr Grech taking office in January it only had an acting head since 2014. “Aside from learning the ropes, I am also striving to give the Commission a more formal presence in Malta and to bring it in line with Juncker’s vision. I see the role of the REP as one of intelligence gathering, as well as communication, especially in the run-up to Malta’s forthcoming EU Presidency in 2017.”

The Commission is also tasked with disseminating as much information as possible about the benefits of being a European citizen. “The recent Eurobarometer survey, conducted in Malta in November, showed that local opinion is mostly positive when it comes to the EU so, in some ways, I am preaching to the converted!” Dr Grech continues. “However I still feel that there are numerous sectors of society that could be made much more aware of the benefits that are out there. For instance: young people. It isn’t only students that can benefit from the EU, but also those who decided not to further their education. I believe in reaching out to young people as I am concerned that this generation could suffer greatly as a result of the economic crisis.

Although Europe is slowly emerging from that crisis, some young people are still suffering – like the 50 per cent of Greek under-30s who are currently unemployed. They are a lost generation and the Commission is now looking into how to reach out to them so that they can start building their future.”

Looking towards what will be achieved in 2016, Dr Grech explains that the Commission’s main drive will be to organise events and activities that highlight President Juncker’s ten priorities. These are namely: a new boost for jobs, growth and investment; to 86

create a digital single market package; to push for a resilient Energy Union; to form a deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base; to create a deeper and fairer Economic and Monetary Union; to set up a reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the USA; to form an area of justice and fundamental

rights based on mutual trust; to move towards a new policy on migration; to be a stronger global actor; and, finally, to be a Union of democratic change.

“He has set these priorities and we will be following them and promoting them through citizens’ dialogues in as many ways as possible,” she says.

“There are big challenges in our future, such as the ‘Brexit’ referendum, but it will be up to the UK citizens to take the right decision come polling day.”

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC INTERVIEW

Naturally, there will also be other issues that are high on the Commission’s agenda, such as migration. “Our role is always to propose – not enforce or implement – so we have been, and will continue to be, a facilitator to the negotiations between member states. Much like was done in the recent deal with Turkey, the Commission makes proposals, and it is then up to the member states and the European Parliament to see whether they are taken up.”

Meanwhile, Dr Grech also talks about the state of the euro. “I think the euro has ceased to be such a prominent issue as there are so many larger problems to deal with right now. The good news is that the euro has stabilised a lot and it seems to be emerging from the crisis.”

Nevertheless, it’s impossible to deny that these are trying times for the EU, but Dr Grech hopes it will be a phase. “I certainly hope the EU will continue to grow and strengthen,” she says. “And I

APRIL / MAY 2016

hope its future will be a colourful one.

“Next year will mark 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome and so much has been achieved – peace of mind, stability and so many other aspects we take for granted because we don’t know any different. Now, the very foundations of the EU are being challenged, but we have to fight that. After all, who can imagine life without all the freedoms we have become so accustomed to?

“Yes, this is a bad phase for Europe as solidarity is being put to the test. But I hope that’s an opportunity for our real European character to shine through.

There are big challenges in our future, such as the ‘Brexit’ referendum, but it will be up to the UK citizens to take the right decision come polling day.

“What we need most of all right now is a united, strong, cooperative and focused EU, and I will be doing everything I can in my role to help that to be achieved,” Dr Grech concludes. cc

“I think the euro has ceased to be such a prominent issue as there are so many larger problems to deal with right now. The good news is that the euro has stabilised a lot and it seems to be emerging from the crisis.”

89

CC make the headlines

The story of Cisk Cisk Lager Beer first appeared on the Maltese market over 85 years ago, and has since established itself as an intrinsic part of Malta’s vibrant culture, lifestyle and cuisine.

Cisk Lager Beer is likely to be available at most social events and gatherings across the Maltese islands and is equally enjoyed during the many colourful village feasts, at local band clubs or as a refreshing treat when relaxing with family and friends. It is also very popular as an accompaniment to traditional snacks such as freshly baked Maltese bread with olive oil and tomatoes – known as hobz biz-zejt and the traditional cheese cakes and pea cakes known as pastizzi.

Cisk was launched on 3rd August 1929 during the local village feast of Hamrun, but the story of Cisk began much earlier than that. It started when Malta’s first privatelyowned bank was established by Giuseppe Scicluna in 1840.

In those days the average businessman, and indeed the ordinary man in the street, hoarded their hard-earned cash either in a brass-bound box under the bed or concealed

in various leather pouches hidden in their clothes. At most, it would be handed over to the bank to be placed in a vault and to be withdrawn as the need arose. Mistrusting bank notes and demanding bags of coins, it was only when the bank’s customers realised that they too could pay creditors with notes that the customers agreed to operate current accounts with Scicluna’s Bank against which they could draw cheques.

Very soon, semi-literate depositors coming in from various country districts, who found difficulty in pronouncing the word ‘cheques’, corrupted the word into ‘cisk’. Giuseppe Scicluna himself soon became known as IcCisk. By mispronouncing the word ‘cheques’ to ‘Cisk’, the Maltese had unwittingly named their beer legacy.

In 1928 Scicluna’s Bank took over the operations of one of its clients who was granted a temporary exclusive licence to manufacture Pilsner and Munchener type beers. The company became known as The Malta Export Brewery and the story of the brewing of Cisk began. In 1948, The Malta Export Brewery merged with Simonds Farsons Limited to become Simonds Farsons Cisk.

Cisk Lager Beer soon developed into Malta’s best-loved beer. Today, every pint of Cisk is lovingly brewed to the highest

quality within a state-of-the-art brewhouse at the Farsons Brewery in Mriehel. The Cisk family today boasts a growing range of award-winning beers including the original Cisk Lager Beer, the low-carbohydrate Cisk Excel and the premium Cisk Export. The range also includes a full-bodied Cisk XS and the flavoured varieties Cisk Chill, each with their own distinct flavours and unique character. cc

CC make the headlines

A future to look forward to

By Charlie Nunn, Group Head of Wealth Management, HSBC The future is full of opportunity. It offers a chance to fulfil ambitions, learn skills, make friends, spend time with family – to focus on what matters.

I have had the good luck to live in different countries over my career at HSBC and to see diverse cultures and ways of life. But in my experience there are some characteristics shared by people all over the world. Chief among them is a positive outlook: people tend to look forward to what the future has in store for them, and think their life is going to get better.

A new report from HSBC ­– The Power of Protection Confidence in the Future – backs this up. The report is based on a survey of more than 11,000 people in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North and Latin America, in both developed and emerging markets. Globally 34 per cent of people say their life is very good today, while 57 per cent think it will be very good ten years from now.

Yet despite this positive outlook, people also worry when they think about the future. Some are kept awake at night by the thought of what would happen if they fell ill, ran out of money, or lost their job. They want to make sure that their loved ones would be looked after. They would like to provide for their children and partners. And increasingly, rising life expectancies mean they are concerned about their parents as well.

It is impossible to plan for every eventuality, but there are many things people can do to help them face the future with greater confidence. Making a long-term plan about your financial affairs can

Engel & Völkers Sara Grech provides the perfect location for a Global Business in Malta Location is a key element in any business plan. Luckily enough Malta is an attractive destination for global companies looking to expand or shift their operations offshore.

Afarak, a chrome producer supplying specialist products to the expanding steel and stainless steel industries approached E&V Sara Grech for assistance with their latest expansion to Malta.

Our experienced commercial agent – John Paul Barbara, with the assistance of Team Leader Patrik Tarcza proposed a high-end property in Ta’ Xbiex as the ideal location for Afarak to base their head office in Malta.

This village is home to a number of foreign embassies, financial services companies and global igaming firms.

Speaking about their selection, Patrik Tarcza commented, “Ta’ Xbiex as a location 92

Three in five take no responsibility for their own financial stability The Power of Protection Confidence in the future Responses from people aged 25+ in a survey of over 11,000 people in 12 countries and territories

Whose responsibility?

Long-term financial security

60%

47%

of people say that someone else should be responsible for ensuring their family’s financial stability if something happens and they are no longer able to earn

say that what they worry most about in life is their long-term financial security

Of these:

49%

People believe the responsibility should lie with: State/government Average

Family 26%

France

Employer 20%

36%

14%

12%

34%

22%

UK

33%

9% 6%

China Hong Kong Taiwan

33%

26% 24%

USA

23%

Singapore

22%

Indonesia

20%

UAE

20%

Malaysia

17%

38% 14%

21%

20%

23%

13%

19%

40%

15%

15% 15%

30% 52%

23%

27%

Mexico

40%

14%

Argentina

40%

14%

47%

8%

24% 24%

11%

43%

20%

11%

say they have nothing specific in place but would find a way to manage

36%

22% 12%

38%

say they could not manage well or at all financially

54%

29% 28%

say they are financially unprepared should something unforeseen happen:

Me

29% 43%

be one way of securing peace of mind. Yet almost half of the people in our survey feel they are unprepared for the future should something unforeseen happen, or have no specific plan in place.

Everyone deserves to feel optimistic about the future. Making a plan means acknowledging the risks we all face, but then getting on and enjoying life. It’s never too late to start thinking ahead. cc

provides the best of both worlds. It provides a quiet location close to the main hub of the Maltese economic activity while providing first-class services right at their doorstep”.

E&V Sara Grech Managing Director, Benjamin Tabone Grech explained, “Malta is becoming synonymous with global corporations and firms which choose to relocate or expand here due to the advantageous tax rates/rebates and policies, multi-skilled workers, accessibility to European Union (EU) trade agreements and markets as well as its geographical location.

In the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index, Malta ranked 10th for bank reliability and 24th for market efficiency (2014). Malta is an English speaking county and has corporate legislation that conforms to EU company law and standards with a stable banking system. Our company is privileged to be part of an international global network which helps us provide an unequalled brokerage service.”

Corporate Profile Engel & Völkers is one of the world’s leading service companies specialised in the sale and rental of premium residential property, commercial real estate, yachts and aircraft. With its licensing system and 7,000 employees situated in 36 countries, Engel &

Völkers is the only German company among the top 100 franchise companies in the world.

Around 590 shops specialised in high-class residential real estate and more than 65 commercial offices brokering office, retail and industrial space, investment properties, multi-purpose apartment and office blocks and property portfolios offer both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of services. cc Engel & Völkers Sara Grech, Triq in-Negozju, Mriehel. T: 2347 0200; www.engelvoelkers.com/malta

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC make the headlines

Bov – Your partners for investments At Bank of Valletta, we take pride in developing meaningful partnerships that last. We do this by giving you the individual attention you deserve.

This is the reason why BOV set up a network of six Investment Centres as centres of excellence, bridging the gap between investment services offered at branches and the Bank’s Wealth Management arm.

Typically, a BOV Investment Centre is made up of six to eight Financial Advisors and one Portfolio Administrator led by a manager who is responsible for the general overseeing of the centre ensuring smooth operation at all times.

All our Financial Advisors are fully qualified and licenced by the MFSA to provide investment advice. They are well versed and keep themselves constantly updated, not only on the extensive range of products they sell, but also on the macroeconomic environment, which could have a major impact on the performance of

the investments and on the level of financial advice that they give to their clients.

The bank’s Investment Centres are provided with centralised support through a specialised support unit. Through regular market updates and training, this unit delivers independent, accurate and unbiased research and analysis in a timely manner to Financial Advisors.

Every Financial Advisor is responsible for a number of relationships with whom s/he makes it a point to meet on a regular basis, in line with the client’s exigencies.

Regular discussions with clients enable our Financial Advisors to better understand the requirements of each and every individual client, in order to be in an optimal position to identify the right product to match the client’s needs in line with the established risk profile.

Through regular surveys conducted since their implementation, it is evident that clients have embraced the Investment Centre concept. Feedback received from visiting clients is very encouraging. Clients have expressed their satisfaction with the holistic experience they get when visiting the centres which include the high level of privacy and confidentiality which they are provided with.

Reactions are also positive with respect to the timeliness of appointments and the execution timeframes within which instructions received from clients are executed.

If you are interested in learning more about how we can assist you with your investments, whether you already have investments, or are seeking advice for the first time, we invite you to contact us so we can discuss your investment requirements at your convenience. cc Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company licensed to carry out the business of banking and investment services in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta) and the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370 of the Laws of Malta). Registered Office: 58, Triq San Zakkarija, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1130-Malta Registration Number: C 2833.

CC make the headlines

iTravel App by Mapfre Middlesea provides assistance during trips abroad While travelling abroad, peace of mind is of utmost importance.

Travel insurance helps one keep his mind at rest – but MAPFRE Middlesea has now taken a step further. The recently launched mobile application, iTravel, assists policyholders during their trips around the world, allowing them to submit claims there and then, and to seek assistance during emergencies.

The application assists travellers during the entire process – allowing them to view all the available prices and descriptions of products and purchase travel insurance products through the app, using an approved payment gateway.

While they are abroad, clients are able to submit initial information about the claim as well as upload photos which are relevant to that submission. The idea is to not overwhelm a user on a mobile device, but to be of assistance and capture sufficient data

What kitchen taps work best for your space?

There are various kitchen taps to choose from and your choice depends on a couple of factors such as space, design, preference and requirements. The main categories to choose from include standard, pull-downs, catering style, electronic, and the dual function tap. With the recent trend of installing PVC windows, (thus having windows opening inwards)

96

for follow-ups to make sense. It is MAPFRE Middlesea which then contacts the client to gather further information.

Another feature allows users to check out nearby hospitals and clinics in case of an emergency, a feature made functional through GPS. The app also allows the user to communicate with MAPFRE Middlesea’s 24/7

contact centre via call, email or SMS and also through a Call Me Back feature.

The app is compatible with all mobile devices and can be downloaded for free from the App Store and Google Play. cc

a new requirement for a specific tap has been created. To enable this kind of window to open fully, we have created what is known as a foldable kitchen tap. The spout of this tap can be easily folded completely into the sink bowl to allow the window to be opened.

fitting for those who dare to make a feature out of the faucet. This faucet type comes in different functions, such as spray functions or pull-downs. It is also great for big island sinks as it can prove bulky otherwise. We have recently launched a sleeker design with tighter spirals. This comes in both polished chrome and in brushed stainless steel; both versions have gained popularity since they were launched.

The electronic faucet has a round knob that just needs to be pressed on or off, so it is highly convenient as you can simply tap it with your elbow if your hands are dirty and water flows freely. This is the faucet for the techies and for those who have a generous budget, as it is the most expensive faucet type.

In terms of shape, round has and will continue to be the most popular, while U-shaped spouts are more practical for bulky pots and pans since you don’t have to move the kitchen tap aside each time. Square is in vogue with architects and designers at the moment, but it is likely to be a phase that will eventually die out – so is not a good option for those who want to retain their kitchen tap for a long period of time. cc

Standard taps are used in a wide range of spaces. They remain among the most common taps on the market since they come in all shapes and sizes, and therefore attract various kinds of preferences. The dual function is also trending. This tap incorporates two outlets in one. The first outlet is for hot and cold kitchen use whereas the second outlet is for purified water.

Currently most osmosis functions in the kitchen have a spout on the side through a separate hole, which can be quite unsightly, especially on a small sink.

Pull-downs are great for those who want to clean the sides of big sinks better, or when they need to use the faucet for other functions, such as filling buckets. This type of faucet is in fact ideal for big kitchens, or the complete opposite – small, studio apartments where the kitchen sink is used for several purposes.

Catering-style taps are particular and tend to make a statement, so they’re more

Further information can be obtained on www.middlesea.com

Find out more at Bridgepoint, Psaila Street, Santa Venera or call us on T: 2147 2241.

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC make the headlines

Arkadia Group is Waitrose’s International Partner of the Year Arkadia has been honoured with the Waitrose International Partner of the Year Award by the leading and award-winning British food retailer in recognition of its top performance in representing and growing the Waitrose business in Malta and Gozo.

Waitrose products are available in the two Arkadia Foodstores in Portomaso and Gozo, and the two Arkadia FoodExpress outlets in Swatar and Paceville.

“Every year, Waitrose scrutinises the performance of its brand where it is represented abroad to be considered for an award in recognition of the support received,” said Waitrose International Sales Manager, Chris Place. “It is with great pleasure that we announce Arkadia as this year’s winner for their constant effort to grow the visibility and demand for Waitrose exclusive products in Malta and Gozo.”

The recognition was based on Arkadia’s growth in sales of Waitrose products of over

70 per cent over the past year. Waitrose also praised Arkadia’s first-class merchandising standards, particularly in the Home department in Arkadia Commercial Centre, Gozo, the continuous promotion of the Waitrose brand across the Maltese territory and the expansion of chilled produce.

“I’m delighted with the way the relationship between us has developed since the early days of trading in 2013, and I still believe that there is more to come as Arkadia continues to expand further. The Waitrose management sends its congratulations to the Arkadia team for this well-deserved award,” said Waitrose’s Chris Place.

Arkadia introduced Waitrose in Malta in 2013, in response to customers’ increasing demand

for quality in what they eat, as part of their daily diet or for special occasions. Arkadia are the sole providers of Waitrose’s exclusive ranges: Duchy Originals, essential Waitrose, Heston from Waitrose, Love Life, Waitrose Organic, Seriously, and Cooks’ Ingredients.

The British food industry is a major force in global culinary trends and produce from the British Isles is celebrated and increasingly well-known through the abundance of personality and celebrity chefs and TV foodies. In fact, Waitrose partners with top chefs and authors Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal to select ingredients and create some ingenious and mouth-watering dishes, as well as advise customers on cookery, bakery and entertaining tips. cc

Photos by Alan Carville

GADGETS

Tech Trends

Sarah Micallef looks through gadgets and gizmos aplenty to bring you her top picks of the latest tech trends this month.

01. TappLock If you’ve ever been through the nightmare of losing the key or forgetting the combination code to your padlocked suitcase when travelling abroad, you’re bound the see the beauty in the TappLock. Forget about keys or combination codes – this innovative lock unlocks with a single tap, using the one thing you always have with you: your fingerprint. The TappLock is also water-resistant, lasts three years on a single charge and even includes a built-in mobile phone charger for those desperate moments! And for the image conscious among you, it’s also a stylish little thing, coming in silver, white, grey, pink or black.

02. Kindle Oasis Amazon’s eighth-generation e-reader has been described by the company as “the most advanced Kindle we’ve ever built”.

Shaped like a wedge and coming in roughly at the same size as a large smartphone, the device is 30 per cent thinner and 20 per cent lighter than its predecessor, the Kindle Voyage. Meanwhile, since one side is larger, its weight shifts the centre of gravity to the reader’s palm, making it easier to carry, and also creates room for more LED lights, resulting in a better backlit display that is easier on the eyes.

03. SkyRoam If you’re a regular traveller for business or leisure, you’re bound to know the value of having a reliable mobile connection, wherever you are. SkyRoam ensures you have exactly that – providing a mobile hotspot for travellers, giving you the freedom to connect in 65 different countries without the hassle of roaming charges or unsecure (and often unreliable) public Wi-Fi. And it’s so simple! You can get on-demand coverage at the same price across all covered countries – just turn it on, register for a 24-hour day pass and get online.

01.

04. New Balance Zante Generate Global athletic leader New Balance launched a limited sale of the first high-performance running shoe with a full-length 3D printed midsole last month. Retailing for $400, these running shoes are truly at the forefront of technology, utilising innovative 3D printing technology to bring the world’s first 3D printed running midsole to the market. Teaming up with 3D Systems, New Balance employed the company’s newly developed laser sintering powder, DuraForm® TPU Elastomer to make significant advancements, resulting in midsoles that achieve an optimal balance of flexibility, strength, weight and durability in an intricate honeycomb midsole structure.

02.

05. Squeaker Buddy Tech is not just for humans! The Squeaker Buddy GPS is the next generation in smart wearables for pets and the first smart collar to incorporate illuminating LED lighting with cellular GPS tracking and activity monitoring. Hailed as “the FitBit for your dog”, the fully-integrated dog collar incorporates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS technology that connects man to man’s best friend like never before. Currently in production, the collar lights up, tracks activity and can even set up a geofence with notifications if your pooch goes missing – genius! cc

03.

04.

05.

APRIL / MAY 2016

101

CC DESIGN TRENDS

Photos by Chris Sant Fournier

When classic meets contemporary Mriehel’s industrial estate has another milepost in its midst – the Engel & Völkers Sara Grech Market Centre. From a painstakingly detailed floor pattern to an eye-catching hanging box at the office entrance, Martina Said meets the partners at Model, the firm behind this commercial project, to find out what went into it.

I

t’s a new kid on a relatively established block, but the recently-completed Engel & Völkers Sara Grech Market Centre in Mriehel is quickly becoming a landmark site in the area. The solid, black main door with bold red accents is a nod to the globally recognised Engel & Völkers brand, while the white façade with large glass panels raises this office block to current, contemporary standards.

I meet the project architect, Alan Galea, together with architects Andrew Vinci and Simon Grech – the three partners at Grech&Vinci Architecture & Design – at their Sliema office. Before delving into the details of this project, however, they let me

102

in on another, ongoing project of theirs: a rebranding exercise as a result of this gradually growing firm.

“Simon Grech and I started this firm in 2008, and it wasn’t long until Alan joined us a few years later. As the firm steadily expanded from three to ten architects (and counting), Alan also became partner,” says Andrew.

“We’ve got a free partnership approach, and in order to reflect the changes we’ve undergone in recent years while giving us more liberty for the future, we’re changing our name from Grech&Vinci to Model. The transition is happening progressively and over time.”

Onto the completion of their most recent commercial project, which included the input of MODEL architects Elisa Camilleri and James Dingli, Alan says the Engel & Völkers Sara Grech Market Centre has come to reflect many of the firm’s design philosophies, including the retention of large, open spaces, and the use of clean lines and modern finishes. “The client wanted to transform this shell property into a central office, and have it designed in such a way that reflects the way the agents work. Open spaces are accompanied by isolated sections, separated only by glass so that communication can still flow easily. The property changes at every level, and becomes more private at the APRIL / MAY 2016

CC DESIGN TRENDS

“By doing away with hard edges, the space feels more inviting, creates depth as well as an element of curiosity.”

upper floors where the managing director and CEO’s offices are stationed.”

A visual tour of the four-storey office helps put all this into perspective. Upon entering the main door, guests are welcomed into a bright and spacious reception area, with a fullyequipped kitchenette – which doubles up as a social space – just behind it, as well as private meeting rooms. “You’ll immediately notice a double volume upon entering the building, which we wanted to retain not only because it offers a feeling of grandeur as soon as you set foot inside, but also because we wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible,” says Alan.

APRIL / MAY 2016

103

CC DESIGN TRENDS They utilised the double volume to create a mezzanine – a small floor between two main levels of the building – therefore making space for a balcony, a number of other meeting rooms, as well as The Hanging Room, which is a star feature of their design.

“We created a box using steel beams, which formed the shell of the box, and closed it

off with glass. This was one of our biggest challenges as the building was not intended to have a structure hanging within it, so we had to find a way to extend the space while keeping the double volume,” explains Alan. “The hanging room is mainly used as a training room for new agents. It overlooks the reception area and creates a certain buzz

within the office – visitors who walk through the main door will instantly notice a lot of movement and activity there, which offers a sneak peek into the culture of this company too.”

The first floor boasts an open-plan design complete with a row of standing desks and separate offices partitioned with glass for team leaders. While the glass offers a degree of privacy and separation, it also represents transparency and openness, enabling agents and team leaders to communicate easily, effectively and efficiently. On this floor and throughout the rest of the office, circulation areas are distinguished from working areas through clean lines on the floors and soffits, and contrasting coloured tiles.

104

APRIL / MAY 2016

CC DESIGN TRENDS

“The hanging room, which overlooks the reception area, creates a certain buzz within the office and offers visitors a sneak peek into the culture of this company.”

“The white herringbone floor pattern indicates the circulation areas, while the dark tiles were used for the working areas.

Many of our designs adopt a raw look and feel, offset with a clean image. In the working areas, services on the ceiling were left exposed, creating visual interest. This also enabled us to retain full height of the ceilings, and in the long run, it is easier to maintain.

Services pass through red cable trays, which add a pop of colour to the black and white colour scheme.”

The second floor, while similar in design, is dotted with more individual offices as well as an open plan area for more experienced agents, located in close proximity to the managing director’s office, who also retains a direct visual link with the team through glass walls. In the floor above, at penthouse level, is the main boardroom, CEO’s office and specified team of agents. “The top floor is a mix of modern and classical styles,” says Alan. “The client had some beautiful antique furniture, which we refurbished and reused.

In some of the offices and meeting rooms on this floor and below, we used parquet instead of ceramic tiles for a warmer, more luxurious feel, which also created a link between floors.”

The circulation space at the top floor reflects a change in tone and mood – the architects added a Model touch by 106

softening wall edges, a trait employed in many of their projects. “By doing away with hard edges, the space feels more inviting, creates depth as well as an element of curiosity,” explain Alan and Simon. “We wanted to create continuity throughout the office but with subtle differences so that no floor is identical to another.”

The Engel & Völkers brand is synonymous with a bold palette of black, white and red, presenting the team with a fixed choice of colours from the outset. “While we had to respect the brand’s identity and stick to a limited range of colours, we were free to interpret it,” says Alan. “We weren’t keen on using a lot of red, so we stuck to black and white throughout the office and used these colours to differentiate, for instance, between the working area and circulation area, or exposed ceilings and clean soffits. Touches of red were added to create focal points, for example through the ceiling cable trays, kitchen chairs, bathroom sinks and front door knob. Every red item was chosen specifically

to match the brand’s shade of red.”

Alan adds that, especially at penthouse level but not just, everything was custommade – such as the doors, handles, locks, and lighting. Some of the meeting room or office façades were designed to resemble typical Engel & Völkers shopfronts so as to retain the brand image, distinguished by a classic black door and white façade.

They all agree, however, that the most painstaking part of this project was the herringbone-patterned floor. “All the whitefloored areas are made up of 10x4cm tiles, laid to create a herringbone pattern, which the tilers spent weeks on. Usually, ceramic is not our first choice of material, but for a large commercial space like this, it was the most feasible and practical option. However, laying it the way we did gave it a certain quality which isn’t usually associated with a ceramic floor, and made for a fine finishing touch in this design project.” cc www.model.com.mt

APRIL / MAY 2016