The Commercial Courier June/July 2019

THE COMMERCIAL/84

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

JUNE/JULY 2019

En plein air

Colours of the local landscape

NEWSPAPER POST GOLD COLLABORATING PARTNERS

IN THIS ISSUE THE GROWTH OF THE YACHTING INDUSTRY IN MALTA / MEET THE NEW MANAGEMENT BOARD OF THE MALTA CHAMBER / THE LATEST BREXIT DEVELOPMENTS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON MALTA AND ITS ECONOMY / DR KONRAD XUEREB ON THE PROPOSED METRO SYSTEM IN MALTA / MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND LIFE COACH STEVE SHALLENBERGER ON WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL LEADER / AN INNOVATIVE OFFICE SPACE AT 14 EAST / THE LATEST BUSINESS NEWS

THE COMMERCIAL/84

COURIER JUNE/JULY 2019

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57.

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FOOD TRENDS

91 INTERVIEW UNLEASHING YOUR INNER LEADER American author and life coach Steve Shallenberger talks Jo Caruana through his world-renowned leadership programme.

16 COVER STORY PUSHING THE BOAT OUT – THE GROWTH OF MALTA’S YACHTING SECTOR Jo Caruana meets some of the stakeholders within Malta’s yachting sector, which now yields more than €100 million a year.

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98 DESIGN TRENDS

44 INTERVIEW THE MALTA UNDERGROUND: THE JOURNEY TOWARDS A MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM

29 IN FIGURES YACHTING… IN NUMBERS A look into the figures related to yachting in Malta.

30 IN DEPTH TAKING ON CHALLENGES: MEET THE NEW MANAGEMENT BOARD OF THE MALTA CHAMBER The Chamber’s newly appointed members of the Board of Management speak with Helena Grech about the challenges that lie ahead.

Rebecca Anastasi finds out more about structural engineer and architect Dr Konrad Xuereb’s proposed metro system as a solution to Malta’s traffic woes.

BREXIT UNCERTAINTY: WHAT WOULD A NODEAL SCENARIO LOOK LIKE FOR MALTA? As a no-deal Brexit looks more likely, Helena Grech speaks with professionals on the ground to see what this could mean for Malta.

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This issue covers the months of June/July/August 2019.

STYLE REVIEW

Architect Edward Coppini explains the design process behind an innovative iGaming company office located within the new 14 East high-rise in Gzira to Sarah Micallef.

111 MEET THE ARTIST

84 Focus

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 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.

105.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: PRIVACY AND OPENNESS AT THE TOWER

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

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

MERGING PASSIONS: THE SYMBIOSIS OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE Maltese artist Sarah Calleja talks Vanessa Conneely through how she combines her profession and hobby, as well as the influence being a mother has had on her painting.

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

Kevin J. Borg Editorial Coordinators

Sarah Micallef Edward Bonello Publisher

DIRECTOR OF SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Matthew Spiteri CORPORATE SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Bernard Schranz SENIOR BRAND SALES EXECUTIVES

Jean Mark Meli Matthew Sciriha

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

sales coordinator

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

Antoinette Micallef ant@box-design.net

Sue Ann Pisani Tel: +356 2132 0713 Design

ON THE COVER Painting by Sarah Calleja

Malta chamber’s bronze collaborating partners JUNE/JULY 2019

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CC Editorial

Standards in the construction industry must be raised immediately The recent increase in the number of episodes in which buildings are collapsing for one reason or another is an extremely serious issue and should be dealt with immediately, and seriously.

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he Malta Chamber was shocked by the news in the span of a few weeks, of one edifice after another collapsing, leaving in their wake untold consequences of injustice on innocent third parties who are rendered effectively homeless overnight.

As a Chamber we have always championed excellence in all areas of the Maltese industry and condemned questionable practices. The building industry is no exception.

Last month, the Chamber applauded the authorities for launching the Considerate Construction Scheme aimed at raising professional standards and quality in the building industry. The scheme had been promoted with the authorities by the Chamber itself, as it fell squarely in line with the Chamber’s Economic Vision, which promoted a culture-change in favour of excellence in everything that is done on the island.

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The Chamber, as it has always done, advocated a high-quality economy where mediocrity and sub-standards are replaced by a culture of excellence, and where the current ‘good enough’ attitude is replaced by a true commitment towards a philosophy of ‘nothing but the best’.

Unfortunately, recent events have precipitated the need for direct and effective action that will provide our public the much-needed peace of mind related to this subject. The Chamber takes note of the stopgap suspension of permits for excavation pending the establishment of a long-term way forward, and is eager to contribute and be part of this process. The Chamber considers the latest unfortunate experiences and events to be a wake-up call for the industry to pull up its socks on all areas of the building process that are not just limited to demolition and excavation.

In this light, the Chamber reiterates its now urgent call for a unified building authority that looks at the industry comprehensively and qualitatively. Such an authority would be responsible for the enforcement of a wideranging set of building regulations that would cover all the construction process.

This authority would also have a serious enforcement arm that would regulate building processes in their entirety while giving third parties efficient and sensible tools and solutions that safeguard their rights.

In the immediate term, site management and project management should be taken more seriously. We need to see a robust middle-management level which is consistently present on our construction sites and that takes responsibility for addressing all site matters efficiently and is effective in its role of bringing all interested parties together; and ensures coordination and success.

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CC Editorial

Responsibilities must be shouldered by all, while the rights of innocent third parties need to be protected at all times.

Further to this, given recent events, the Chamber is going a step further and calling on authorities to act fast, and even consider going beyond the voluntary nature of the Considerate Construction Scheme, and legally oblige contractors to a strict code of ethics, in order to ensure proper high-quality practices in the construction industry.

The situation is now dire, and no more time can be wasted. The ethical standards and quality of our construction industry need to be raised immediately and brought in line with those of other European counterparts and developed countries. Our islands and our citizens certainly deserve no less.

It is considered neither ethical nor professional to proceed on the basis of what has been witnessed in this very active

building economy in Malta over the last years. Responsibilities must be shouldered by all, while the rights of innocent third parties need to be protected at all times.

The Chamber remains available to assist

the authorities by any means possible, including acting as a bridge between all parties involved. The Malta Chamber is convinced that together we have what it takes to overcome this ugly chapter. cc

CC COVER STORY

Pushing the boat out – The growth of Malta’s yachting sector Malta’s yachting sector now yields more than €100 million a year, putting it among the most important sectors in the economy at the moment. Here, Jo Caruana meets some of the stakeholders to find out what has sparked this growth and whether it is expected to continue.

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mong Malta’s many growth sectors is one that truly does make the most of our unique location in the Mediterranean. From our calm waters to our strategic positioning, our island continues to attract attention as the go-to destination for yachting – both when it comes to our flag, and for the additional logistical and 16

legal services offered by our jurisdiction. As a result, yachting has now become a €100 million-a-year sector – and one that has recently enjoyed substantial investment in new, much-needed infrastructure.

There is no denying that Malta offers a number of key advantages to yachters in the region – distinguished between the flag,

legal, corporate and tax services on the one hand, and the logistical set-up (including marinas, yards, suppliers, agents and the various service providers that cater to yachts physically calling in Malta) on the other.

There has been substantial growth in recent years too. Statistics obtained from Transport Malta in December 2018 point to JUNE/JULY 2019

CC COVER STORY

a total registration of 751 yachts of over 24 metres in length. “So, considering the stiff competition faced and Malta’s relatively recent entry in the super yacht arena when compared to the more traditional yachting flags, these numbers reflect stunning progress,” explains Alison Vassallo, who heads the Yachting Division within Fenech & Fenech Advocates, and who has chaired the Yachting Services Business Section (YSBS) of the Malta Chamber for the past four years.

“Today Malta is a world leader in the registration of super yachts, the largest European flag and a leading jurisdiction for the provision of corporate, legal and tax services to both owners and financiers, and this sets us apart among other jurisdictions.”

“And there are lots of benefits to those JUNE/JULY 2019

choosing Malta: we have a strong legal system, there is the historic attractiveness of the flag, there is the legal protection offered to financiers, our concrete corporate and fiscal solutions, and our service providers dedicated to providing unparalleled service.

These are all factors that have contributed to Malta’s ascent in the yachting sector.”

Niki Travers Tauss, Managing Director of Esprit Yachting Malta and the Vice Chair of the Chamber’s YSBS, echoes Dr Vassallo’s affirmation that the island today has a vibrant maritime economy – especially given substantial recent investment in new, muchneeded infrastructure.

“New marinas have solved the acute demand for berthing space. However, we anticipate that, if the economy maintains this

pace, that space will become acute again in the next two years. Thankfully, new projects are on the cards and should address this,” he says.

“Meanwhile, the arrival of the new, muchneeded shipyard infrastructure is finally spurring healthy competition among local shipyards, to the benefit of the customers and industry stakeholders. Lifting capacity has dramatically increased with MMH, Palumbo and MIYY all delivering new travel hoists to the market. This increased activity will hopefully renew the international demand for refits in Malta and, in turn, refuel the pace of the establishment of the yacht subcontracting companies that, for the last five years, had dwindled from their peak strength in the 2007-8 period.”

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CC COVER STORY

“The arrival of the new, much-needed shipyard infrastructure is finally spurring healthy competition among local shipyards.”

– Niki Travers Tauss, Esprit Yachting Malta Globally speaking, yachting is also considered to be a buoyant market with growth currently being registered on most continents. “Italy continues to register the lion’s share of this trend and the Azimut|Benetti Group has been named the global largest super yacht producer for the 18th consecutive year, which bodes well for our market and joint interests in Malta,” Mr Travers Tauss continues. “Yacht sales have peaked in the last 24 months too, and it now remains to be seen whether the economy can maintain this pace.”

Speaking broadly, John Huber, Chairman of Yachting Malta – a public private partnership between the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Government – says he believes some facets of the sector are doing well, while others could be doing better.

“There are the legal issues with the flagging and the financing issues with mortgages, VAT, leasing and so on that we have done very well with and hope to continue with, even after we have modified our law and

procedures related to VAT issues,” he says.

“We also have more yards in the Grand Harbour and some of them are investing heavily in attracting more super yachts to Malta. However, we do wish that more yachts that visit Malta would spend more nights here, or even, preferably, winter here, and have all their servicing done locally.”

Addressing the fact that yachts are getting bigger and are therefore using different materials, Mr Huber says that the sector seriously needs to take a structured approach to training and excellence in services. “It is paramount that we recommence the apprentice programme in maritime services,” he says. “Yachting Malta is currently speaking to industry stakeholders and will be facilitating the presence of the Super Yacht Industry Network Malta at the Cannes Yacht Show. We are also trying to get more yacht events to Malta, and will continue to support the participation of young sailors in the Euromed Championships.”

With this in mind, Dr Vassallo explains

“We do wish that more yachts that visit Malta would spend more nights here, or even, preferably, winter here and have all their servicing done locally.” – John Huber, Yachting Malta JUNE/JULY 2019

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CC COVER STORY

“Malta is a world leader in the registration of super yachts.”

– Alison Vassallo, Fenech & Fenech Advocates

that the yachting sector is one that is constantly evolving – as evidenced by the recent publication of revised guidelines relating to the supply of pleasure yachts that replaced the 2005 mechanism launched by the Maltese authorities. “For over 10 years, this represented the most popular method for owners to obtain VAT paid status on their yachts,” she explains.

She also highlights the important economic role that the yachting sector has had – with a domino effect resulting in benefits to a vast range of suppliers and service providers whose existence relies heavily on this industry. “This was confirmed by figures obtained from a study conducted by the YSBS in collaboration with Ernst & Young last year, which pointed to an estimated €100 million turnover from operators within the industry, excluding direct revenue generated from taxation and flag registration fees.”

“The sector also plays an important role from an employment perspective, with an estimated 1,500 direct employments, suggesting, as Finance Minister Edward Scicluna noted during a press conference organised by the YSBS in March, that the figures in indirect employment would be expected to substantially exceed this amount.”

Now, though, Mr Travers Tauss says that the growth of the Malta flag and the success of the Malta VAT leases have brought the spotlight onto Malta, and explains that the local sector is suffering gross political pressure from competing large state governments and the EU Commission. “It’s a battle being fought and, so far, Malta stands its ground,” he says.

“The success has also brought volume and this has pressured authorities and their personnel. If we are to maintain the pace, the respective authorities will have to beef up their teams and improve registry and technical efficiency to maintain the excellent service and timeframes we were used to 20

delivering to customers consistently.”

Dr Vassallo, meanwhile, stresses that focus on continuing to build on foundations that are firmly rooted in experience, heritage and quality should be placed at a governmental level.

“Strengthening human resources and expertise within the various administrative departments servicing the industry would ensure support for the private sector and swift turnaround in scenarios where – more often than not – time is of the essence,” she says.

“Furthermore, the study referred to

above reflects a commonly-expressed lament by operators on the lack of training and apprenticeship opportunities that would attract young people to the yachting industry. Therefore, there is a clear call for Government investment in the setting up of structured courses for the provision of specialised training in the various disciplines and trades that support the sector.”

“Finally, a direct flight connection to the south of France to enable crew to travel to and from Malta to encourage the wintering of yachts in Malta is also sorely needed,” Dr Vassallo concludes. cc JUNE/JULY 2019

CC YACHTING

Under the Malta flag Malta and its pristine waters are synonymous with recreational boating and yachting. As an island deep in the Mediterranean whose economy has thrived on offering top-notch services, Helena Grech speaks with various service providers in the yachting industry to gauge what the future has in store.

Andrew Morgan

Managing Director, Affinity Management Services Malta Ltd Affinity Management Services Malta Ltd provides management consultancy services in a diverse number of areas in the jurisdictions of the Isle of Man and Malta.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

As a corporate and fiduciary service provider we specialise in the formation and ongoing administration of ownership structures for super yachts. As part of this service-offering, we are able to assist with the registration of yachts in Malta, handling

the importation of yachts into Europe via Malta, VAT planning, crew employment and general company administration. We have operated in the yachting sector for over 15 years; having initially focused solely on the yachting business, we later diversified into other successful sectors such as aviation, FinTech, iGaming, property, residency and immigration.

Are conditions in the current yachting industry favourable to your business?

The greatest challenge to our Isle of Man business right now is undoubtedly Brexit.

Much of what we do is focused around the clearance of luxury assets into Europe which would no longer be possible through the UK in a post-Brexit environment. Fortunately, our Malta office is well placed to assist and, in practice, the majority of our new yachting business has been structured through Malta in recent years. Malta had a very attractive leasing arrangement which was closed towards the end of 2018. We are confident that a new leasing arrangement, based on use and enjoyment, will allow Malta to continue as a leading maritime jurisdiction in the years ahead.

Darin Zahra

Senior Agency Manager, Carmelo Caruana Company Ltd Carmelo Caruana Company Ltd has grown from a pioneering family business into an established leader of the Mediterranean shipping industry. Carmelo Caruana provides service offerings as a logistics partner and client access to global connections.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

We are a full-service agency providing logistics, supplies and shore support services to the ship and yachting industry.

Of particular interest for the yachting

industry is our expertise and experience in the transportation of yachts through a highly facilitated process. Sister companies within the Group to which we belong, Hili Ventures, provide specialised and dedicated services for large yachts including marine engineering services and refit and repair project management.

Are conditions in the current yachting industry favourable to your business?

The industry in Malta has experienced considerable growth, however we believe that more can be done in terms of infrastructure, in specialised training and in securing the right level of skills and craftsmanship. Only expertise, high service levels and adequate facilities can enhance the industry and generate better opportunities.

What challenges and opportunities has the growing sector brought to your business?

On the basis of our experience in the marine industry we have been able to tap

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What challenges and opportunities has the growing sector brought to your business?

As I touched upon earlier, whilst Brexit presents challenges to our Isle of Man office, we see opportunities for our Malta office.

Changes in leasing arrangement requirements and the general movement across Europe towards promoting a level playing field when it comes to VAT planning opportunities also create challenges. We are confident that the demand to purchase luxury assets will remain constant despite these fiscal changes.

I strongly believe Malta will remain a leading jurisdiction in the maritime sector due to the quality of the flag, Malta’s excellent reputation in the industry and the quality of service providers operating in the sector.

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

Malta has already established itself as a leading jurisdiction for corporate structuring and the registration of luxury assets, and I feel that this will only increase in the months and years ahead. In addition to the financial services sector, I anticipate further growth in other areas across the maritime sector.

Malta now offers world class facilities and many of our yachts regularly utilise these.

In addition, Malta continues to offer some of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the Mediterranean. the opportunities offered by the yachting industry and tailor our services to this very specialised sector. At Carmelo Caruana we consider challenges as opportunities.

We are constantly learning and improving our services. As a group, Hili Ventures has identified the yachting sector as one of the growth areas and is developing expertise to offer specialised engineering and management services.

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

Building on past success Malta will continue to be an important player in the industry, offering a very wide range of services including flag registration and corporate services but also technical services and berthing facilities. Our mild weather, English-speaking workforce, connectivity and hospitality all play an important role in offering a strong alternative to other countries in the Mediterranean, and should act as a foundation for Malta to become a more popular wintering home port for larger yachts. This will only be possible if we have the infrastructure and can ensure the right level of quality services.

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CC YACHTING

George Mercieca

Berthing Master, Creek Developments plc The 720-berth Msida and Ta’ Xbiex Marina, operated by Creek Developments plc, is long sought-after for its convenient, central location and the shelter afforded. A range of services are offered such as bunkering services, caretaker services, as well as chartering services.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

Creek Developments plc offers berthing and ancillary services to yachts of up to 22m in length at the Msida and Ta’ Xbiex Marina.

The marina is both centrally located and uniquely sheltered from wind and swell, ensuring high occupancy levels yearround. With 24/7, 365-days-a-year service, high security, discretion and exceptionally comfortable shoreside facilities, the marina is as attractive to visitors as it is to Maltese boat owners.

Are conditions in the current yachting industry favourable to your business?

Demand continues to grow in the current yachting industry. There is a tendency towards ownership of larger yachts, and the number of super yachts and mega yachts has been growing exponentially

in recent years. Creek Developments provides berthing for yachts of up to 22m in length, but we are seeing the same growth of interest in higher specification yachts, RIBs and jet skis, as foreigners attracted by the gaming and financial services industries embrace the ‘island’ lifestyle and opportunities.

What challenges and opportunities has the growing sector brought to your business?

A particular challenge is lack of space, both in Malta in general, and the Msida and Ta’ Xbiex Marina specifically. The marina’s year-round shelter means that it is always in demand and enjoys full occupancy. More space was created when the marina was refurbished in 2012-2013, but as yachts increase in size, the space is absorbed, and there is little scope for further expansion. Thus, we need to be creative about managing available space.

For example, we cater for a wintering market of foreign yacht owners who arrive when many of the Maltese-owned yachts are taken out of the water. They are attracted by the reputation for shelter of the marina and the ease of access from mainland Europe, and in many cases, they discover that Malta has so

Kurt Catania

Director, Fides Corporate Services Ltd Fides Corporate Services is a boutique firm uniquely qualified and positioned to provide creative, innovative and practical solutions specifically by focusing on Maltese corporate and tax planning, trusts and estate planning, financial services, and corporate services to the shipping, aviation and iGaming sectors.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

Fides Corporate Services has been at the forefront of yacht registration, registered agent services, shipping company registration and directorship services

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along with yacht management. We also get involved with yacht importations and VAT leasing schemes. Fides is set up to provide a one-stop-shop to our clients which includes book-keeping, VAT jurisdiction management and statutory accounts preparation, payment processing, bank account and credit card management, and cash flow forecasting. Our legal team assists with the drafting of crew contracts in line with maritime standards, including payroll processing.

Are conditions in the current yachting industry favourable to your business?

The yachting industry, being an industry servicing a luxury good, pretty much depends on the state of the economy.

Currently we are experiencing a good and steady recovery in yacht registration as opposed to 2010-2013. Over the years the Malta flag has gained the trust of yacht owners as it is one of the largest maritime flags in the Mediterranean. This is thanks to our Malta Maritime registry which recognised the value of the super yacht industry back in 2006, when it launched the Maltese commercial yacht code, and today the industry is reaping the fruit of such a longterm vision.

much more to offer as a winter destination than cheaper competitors in Sicily or Greece.

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

The yachting industry in Malta needs to build on the strengths, namely that Malta enjoys security and political stability, is centrally located in the Mediterranean, has a kind climate and good natural shelter, a welldeveloped yachting support infrastructure, and a multilingual workforce. On the other hand, the island’s small size means that its scope as a cruising destination in its own right is relatively limited, thus the areas where the industry can progress are in the support and yacht management services, and the flag registry.

What challenges and opportunities has the growing sector brought to your business?

The Malta yachting industry continues to experience overall success as a maritime jurisdiction, as its shipping register remains the EU’s largest. The colours of the Malta flag are now predominantly present in all major maritime hubs and prestigious maritime and yachting events. This has put Malta safely on the map and likewise us players in the Maltese yachting industry have benefitted from such growing exposure. As a boutique firm, we are proud to offer our clients personal attention.

We believe in establishing professional yet personal relationships with our clients that exceed their expectations with a meticulous eye for detail.

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

With the re-launching of Malta’s much acclaimed Yacht Leasing scheme, looking ahead, I see the potential for healthy growth in the industry.

Needless to say, it is important that Malta ensures that any changes affecting the yachting industry are attractive and competitive, as these attributes have always been Malta’s key to success given its size limitations. The advantages Malta has to offer to the super yacht industry are not limited to the flag itself, but extend to its legal, corporate and tax services on the one hand and its logistical set-up which includes marinas and yards.

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CC YACHTING

Andrew Massa Associate, DF Advocates

DF Advocates is a law firm based in Malta providing legal advice to local and international clients on a multitude of matters across various industries including shipping and yachting.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

As a law firm we provide advice on a variety of yachting-related issues such as registration, purchase/sale of vessels and more. Among other services, we offer advice and assistance on the financing or re-financing of purchase or refit works, including simple solutions and more complicated transactions involving leasing arrangements and fractional ownership, both to financial institutions and borrowers; the registration of yachts under the Malta flag; the setting up of the Maltese VAT leasing structure; the setting up of tax efficient corporate structures for yacht owners and managers; the drafting of charter agreements to owners and charterers, and of insurance contracts and other related matters; the drafting of crewing contracts; and on tax-related matters (including VAT issues).

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

Malta has steadily grown in recent years from a convenient port of call for all yachts and super yachts crossing the Mediterranean, to a hub for the yachting industry as a whole. The island has developed the infrastructure requested by super yacht owners, captains and managers, and today offers modern facilities and marinas, top quality chandlery and agency services, repair facilities and other similar products and services.

Moreover, the Maltese authorities and service providers have acted to make the

Maltese jurisdiction, and most notably the Malta flag, an attractive solution for yacht ownership, finance and registration.

What are the implications of registering one’s yacht under the Malta flag?

Malta offers secure and smart possibilities for yacht owners and managers in the finance and fiscal fields, making Malta the most attractive jurisdiction available in Europe at present. Reputability is a sine qua non factor in the maritime industry, as registering one’s yacht under a reputable flag is essential to sail in EU waters with peace of mind. The yachting industry will definitely keep on growing in Malta as the island continues to strive to be at the forefront of the industry and will certainly continue to serve as one of Europe’s most attractive yacht hubs.

Beyond providing legal services for acquiring/selling of vessels, how else does a local law firm service the yachting industry?

We also assist owners or creditors in the arrest of vessels in the Mediterranean region. Malta itself is a favourable jurisdiction for ship/yacht owners, financiers and creditors to obtain and enforce judgments, also because the relative Maltese legislation is based on the English Admiralty law. We advise and assist clients in relation to wet claims, including collisions, salvage and towage operations; and dry claims, including disputes relating to insurance, transport, refit or constructions contracts, and crew.

Edward Woods

Managing Director, Trader Marine Yacht Services Ltd Trader Marine Yacht Services Ltd was set up in 1991 and over the course of the last 26 years has firmly established itself as a leading company in the maritime industry.

What services does your company offer to the yachting industry in Malta?

We offer services as yacht agents and yacht brokers, as well as offer yacht charter, after sales and concierge services. Moreover, we represent Fairline Yachts UK. Are conditions in the current yachting industry favourable to your business?

Yes, they are favourable as the number of people boating is increasing annually.

What challenges and opportunities has the growing sector brought to your business?

Well I think that one of the challenges

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everyone is facing is the lack of berthing facilities.

How do you see Malta’s yachting industry progressing in the future?

I believe that the only way Malta will survive is by primarily being careful not to outprice ourselves. I also believe that there is an association being set up, and this is good news as some form of monitoring will be undertaken.

Where do your business’ greatest strengths lie in this increasingly competitive market?

We are moving forward with brokerage.

In addition, we are consultants for marina developments, and we believe that there is still room for more marinas to be set up locally. cc

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CCCC COVER CCIN in INTERVIEW BUSINESS FIGURES figures STORY

IN FIGURES: YACHTING IN MALTA

4,879

65,957 The gross tonnage of yachts under 24m registered in Malta.

The number of yachts registered in Malta, as of end 2018.

100m

The size of the largest super yacht sailing under the Maltese flag. The yacht, Dream, belongs to a Greek billionaire.

24m

4.2%

The minimum size of a luxury yacht, classified as a super yacht.

The percentage increase in the number of yachts registered in 2018 over the previous year.

720

The number of berths at the Msida and Ta’ Xbiex Marina, the biggest marina in Malta.

751

The number of super yachts registered in Malta.

4,128 The total number of Malta-registered yachts under 24m in length.

1,633

The number of visits from foreign yachts at Maltese marinas in 2018.

9.3% The percentage increase in 2018 in the registration of super yachts over 2017.

Source: Gozo In Figures, National Statistics Office, Malta

Source: Transport Malta, Transport Malta Annual Report 2017, 2018

Source: Malta International Airport JUNE/JULY 2019

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CC IN DEPTH

Taking on challenges: meet the new Management Board of the Malta Chamber As an independent voice of the private sector in Malta, there has never been a more vital time for the Malta Chamber to continue its work in ensuring a sustainable and productive business environment. The Chamber’s newly appointed members of the Board of Management speak with Helena Grech about the challenges that lie ahead.

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aving been set up in 1848, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is the longest-established social partner in Malta, consistently representing the concerns and needs of Malta’s private sector.

While the island has experienced a positive trend in economic growth over the past years, characterised by low unemployment and high economic activity, this has not come without challenges. Growth is not being felt across the board, with certain industries reaping the lion’s share, while others lag.

The Malta Chamber’s five new Board of Management members, appointed in April this year and tasked with advising the Council on policy matters and on the administration of the Chamber, share their insights on the current economic climate and on several key issues ranging from competitiveness and industrialisation to industrial relations and internationalisation.

Marisa Xuereb – Deputy President Marisa Xuereb is an economist and Managing Director of Raesch Quarz (Malta) Ltd, a German-owned manufacturing company producing quartz glass components, that has been operating from the Mosta Technopark for the past 22 years. Ms Xuereb is also Director of Malta Enterprise, the Malta Life Sciences Park and Education Malta, and sits

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on the Technology Development Programme Committee of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).

Ms Xuereb’s main area of interest lies with Research, Technology, Development and Innovation (RTDI), a notoriously challenging field on the local scene.

“According to the latest statistics, Malta remains a moderate innovator when compared to other European countries. If we had to look at two key components of these statistics, namely the country’s expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP and the number of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects, we immediately notice that our recent economic results are not translating into commensurate growth in R&D and innovation,” Ms Xuereb says.

Echoing a sentiment expressed by many with a desire to see Malta shift towards a more research-based economy, she adds: “the decrease in R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP since 2013 indicates that our investment in research has not kept pace with the unprecedented economic growth we have experienced in the last five years. Common wisdom holds that there is no better time to allocate resources to fuel future growth than when the economy is doing well, yet it seems we are not doing this to a satisfactory level.”

She goes on to highlight a shift in the global economy where both new and wellestablished economic segments are turning towards digital solutions, “adopting smart technologies such as data analytics and Artificial Intelligence in everything from product design to customer service.”

With this change in the way the world in general is doing business, Malta must step up its investment in R&D and innovation, “and move away from treating such activities as optional, nice-to-haves on the side,” Ms Xuereb stresses.

Re-focusing R&D as a central and core part of business functions, even if “it does not yield immediate returns,” is vital, she proclaims. Ms Xuereb also speaks of the EU’s upcoming budget allocating more resources to R&D, meaning “Malta will need to shift gear very quickly to be able to absorb its share from the Cohesion funding.”

She concludes by “urging all relevant stakeholders to focus their efforts to maximise the country’s potential.”

Hugh Arrigo – Vice President Hugh Arrigo is Director within Attard & Co Ltd, and a founder Director and largely responsible for the establishment of the following JV companies operating within the Attard & Co Group of Companies: World Express, Evolve Ltd and ProSecure Services JUNE/JULY 2019

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Ltd. He is a founder Council Member of the Maltese Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a Council Member of the Maltese Libyan Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Arrigo focuses his contribution on competitiveness, and on the importance of ensuring that Malta remains competitive should it want to retain the economic position it finds itself in.

“There is no doubt that our country is doing well. However, no summer is eternal, and this basic economic truth weighs us with a responsibility we cannot shrug off. It makes governments and civil society alike responsible for future-proofing our economy and for safeguarding the hard-earned results we achieved together before we risk burning ourselves out in our own success,” he argues.

Mr Arrigo highlights how Malta’s success has brought with it “real issues which can be identified as the result of the successes it is registering.” He maintains that it is within this context that the country must “remain vigilant to safeguard our economy and see that our international competitiveness does not get chipped away.”

“The decrease in R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP since 2013 indicates that our investment in research has not kept pace with the unprecedented economic growth we have experienced in the last five years.” – Marisa Xuereb, Deputy President JUNE/JULY 2019

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“There is no doubt that our country is doing well. However, no summer is eternal, and this basic economic truth weighs us with a responsibility we cannot shrug off.” – Hugh Arrigo, Vice President Mr Arrigo explains that competitiveness refers to the ability of a country to produce a good or service that is better or more attractive than that offered by another country. “In order to achieve this, we must be able to produce something of higher quality or better price than others, and for this to materialise, we must first attract investment from Maltese or foreign entities, from entrepreneurs and from the private sector. To do so, we must ensure that all the factors that influence investment decisions in the country are right.”

Echoing position papers released by the Chamber over the past years, he also shares his concern over the issue of lack of human resources, “both in terms of quality as well as quantity,” to keep up with the demand being generated by economic growth.

“My appeal is to take heed of the results achieved by our country and act in order to continue reaping the opportunities of the times and guarantee a prosperous future for Malta’s economy,” he concludes.

Frank V. Farrugia – Vice President Frank V. Farrugia is the owner and Managing Director of Alphacom Int. Services Co Ltd, a company specialising in the supply of textiles, industrial sewing machines and all related equipment, as well as Alcom Enterprises Co Ltd, which specialises in the supply of professional tools and other equipment.

He joined the Malta Chamber in 1976 and has since held various posts, most notably President between 2017 and 2019.

On the subject of internationalisation – the process of elevating a good or service JUNE/JULY 2019

to the international sphere – he says that it is a “principal element in the Chamber’s vision to support its members’ growth”. Due to Malta’s limitations determined by its small size, Mr Farrugia explains that businesses quickly realise they must look beyond Malta’s shores to foster growth. “Within this context, our Chamber is only too happy to provide initiatives and events to help them reach their internationalisation goals,” he explains.

He discusses the Chamber’s initiatives in helping local businesses gain a footpath in foreign markets, especially those that provide “tangible economic growth to members”. Central to the process of fostering international trade cooperation, Mr Farrugia points towards the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which the Malta Chamber runs as part of the local consortium together with Malta Enterprise, MCST and the Malta Business Bureau. EEN is the world's largest support network for SMEs with 3,000 experts across 600 member-organisations in more than 60 countries.

“Through EEN, over the span of the last two years, the Malta Chamber organised no less than 18 brokerage events. Through these events, over 320 companies had more than 1,351 pre-scheduled business-to-business meetings with potential partners. It also provides advisory support to companies that wish to become internationalisation-ready,” Mr Farrugia says.

“Internationalisation remains a central part of business support at the Chamber. This places the Chamber at an optimal position, to help Maltese businesses look beyond our shores and grow internationally,” he concludes.

Liz Barbaro Sant – Officer Liz Barbaro Sant has had a long career as Company Director of Alberta, a fire safety and security business. She also serves as a Council Member of the Maltese Libyan Chamber of Commerce.

Ms Barbaro Sant takes on the popular yet contentious topic of tourism and related services. The growth in tourism that Malta is currently experiencing is bearing fruit for several stakeholders that service the industry, however it is also presenting an unprecedented set of challenges.

“Today this industry accounts directly to close to one quarter of our Gross Domestic Product. It is a sector that brings both prosperity and challenges, one of the latter being its undeniable impact on the environment and society,” she comments.

Malta’s increasing population is in fact causing its already limited natural resources to come under strain. Ms Barbaro Sant highlights rising “environmental consciousness among consumers,” adding that “we must strike a balance between a tourism product that is worthwhile and sustainable for businesses, as well as a well-protected natural habitat and historical heritage.”

“Internationalisation remains a central part of business support at the Chamber. This places the Chamber at an optimal position, to help Maltese businesses look beyond our shores and grow internationally.” – Frank V. Farrugia, Vice President 33

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“Today this industry accounts directly to close to one quarter of our Gross Domestic Product. It is a sector that brings both prosperity and challenges, one of the latter being its undeniable impact on the environment and society.” – Liz Barbaro Sant, Officer as opposed to the previous scenario made up of tourist months and shoulder months.

She concludes: “as a Chamber we continue to believe in the importance of our tourism industry, and its contribution to the Maltese economy, however we need to act now to make the quality leap towards sustainable tourism, which needs to move from a mere buzzword to concrete action.”

She points towards the very “real challenge” of mass tourism impacting Malta’s infrastructure and heritage further, cautioning that the number of hotel beds will double over the next few years, “which will need significant increases to incoming tourism as well as foreign workers to service said beds.”

She stresses that with the looming impact in terms of overcrowding, “a discussion must commence on the industry’s viability at the current pace.”

Here, she points out, is where the country needs to have a serious debate on “real sustainable tourism, which does not operate at the detriment of residents and communities at large but can actually benefit them.” Ms Barbaro Sant goes on to argue that quality over quantity must prevail, and a shift to more upscale niche tourism would reduce the pressure on the local community.

In addition, she highlights the need for a rethink on the methods of construction employed across the island, to better reflect the “realities of 12-month tourism”

Andrew W. J. Mamo – Officer Andrew Mamo is Managing Director of Galdes & Mamo Ltd. He has been a member of the Malta Chamber since 1990. For the last two years he has served as Chairman of the Chamber’s Importers, Distributors and Retailers Economic Group.

Taking up the issues surrounding industrial relations and skills, Mr Mamo echoes the sentiment being expressed by most businesses over the past few years: the inability to find enough workers both in terms of supply as well as the skills or qualifications required.

“At first glance, the employment situation in Malta appears to be excellent. The country currently has the largest labour force in its history, a significant increase in the domestic supply of productive hours, the largest cohort of foreign workers it has ever had, and the second-lowest level of unemployment across the entirety of the European Union.”

He notes the big changes occurring in Malta’s labour market, with 20 per cent of the labour force being made up of foreign nationals, both EU members and third country nationals.

Mr Mamo asserts that “this brings about new challenges as well as opportunities for the economy and country to thrive.” He highlights a Chamber report drawn up to observe the changes, entitled ‘The Labour Market 2018 Report’. It outlines a draft list of policies related to the labour market, serving as a blueprint on how to mitigate the threats posed by the present shortages.

“The Chamber’s proposals are primarily focused on maintaining the importance and relevance of Malta’s domestic workforce, while only resorting to foreign workers to supplement areas of domestic shortfall.

Other proposals focus on implementing best practices observed in advanced economies

especially in terms of active labour market policies, identifying skills gaps in the labour market, and proposing workable solutions to mitigate those gaps,” he explains.

In conclusion, Mr Mamo speaks of unpopular yet relevant issues surrounding social measures that exacerbate the effects of the acute shortages in the labour market.

“These measures,” he explains, “relate to maternity leave, workers with disability, public holidays falling on a weekend, the introduction of parental sick leave and the eventual transposition of the WorkLife Balance Directive into Maltese law.”

He stresses that the Chamber speaks of these issues “not out of lack of social conscience,” however he notes that within an “economic reality where labour costs are fast increasing beyond productivity levels both in terms of wages and non-wage costs, further labour-related impositions would continue to jeopardise the competitiveness and sustainability of businesses in a pricesensitive market.”

Matthias Fauser also sits on the Malta Chamber’s Board of Management, and currently holds the position of CEO at Playmobil Malta. cc

“[Within an] economic reality where labour costs are fast increasing beyond productivity levels both in terms of wages and nonwage costs, further labour-related impositions would continue to jeopardise the competitiveness and sustainability of businesses in a price-sensitive market.” – Andrew W. J. Mamo, Officer 34

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Corinthia Palace: New milestones for award-winning hotel With the news that the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa has won the top local accolade at the recent World Travel Awards 2019, this five-star establishment has reconfirmed its place among Malta’s very best destinations. Here, General Manager Adrian Attard talks Jo Caruana through what guests and stakeholders can expect from the months to come – including the highly-anticipated re-launch of the Athenaeum Spa.

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orinthia Palace Hotel & Spa is a legendary property in Malta.

As one of the very first five-star hotels on the island, it has been regarded as a destination of excellence for over 50 years – and that legacy was recently underlined further when it was announced the winner of the World Travel Award 2019 for ‘Malta’s Leading Hotel’. The award was the top accolade given to Malta at the international ceremony, which took place at the Belmond Reid's Palace in Madeira.

“It is a huge honour to receive an award that sets out to recognise the very best that the global travel industry has to offer,” says General Manager Adrian Attard, who travelled to Portugal to receive the award.

“It was won by every single member of the team at Corinthia Palace, each of whom works tirelessly to create special and memorable experiences for our guests in Malta. At the soul of Corinthia Palace lies a legacy of 51 years, built upon uplifting the lives of our guests and our staff, and I am honoured to be able to take this legacy forward at what is certainly an exciting time for the hotel, as well as the international Corinthia brand as a whole.”

And ‘exciting time’ is no understatement.

The award comes at a milestone moment for Corinthia Palace, as the hotel gets set to

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complete a substantial renovation process that includes new back-of-house services and machinery, a soft upgrading of the rooms and suites, the launch of the new executive lounge, and an upgrading of the lobby.

Phase three of this programme will be the re-launch of the Athenaeum Spa as Malta’s foremost spa following a multi-million euro investment that will be completed in October.

“The Athenaeum originally opened in the early 1990s and has always held a very special place among the Maltese as one of the first real spas to open on the island,” Mr Attard continues. “Today we are in the process of reimagining it and recreating it for the 21st century, with a product line and treatment experience that exudes luxury, but which is firmly rooted in Maltese nature. We look forward to unveiling it to our guests in October.”

Achieving the accolade of Malta’s Leading Hotel also underlines the Corinthia Palace’s food and beverage offering, with a set of fivestar dining options that includes The Summer Kitchen (which has recently reopened for the season), Villa Corinthia, Rickshaw, Orange Grove and Caprice Lounge. Once again, Villa Corinthia is also proving to be one of the island’s most popular luxury events venues for extraordinary weddings and other occasions.

The hotel has also solidified its reputation as an excellent choice for meetings and

conference business on the island, whether local or incoming. The Corinthia Ballroom is a large, flexible event space for up to 300 guests, renowned for its state-of-the-art technology offering and superior facilities.

The Villa Corinthia, of course, is the ultimate destination to impress – whether for dinner or an extra special event. The venue also provides high-end private dining for anything from two to 50 guests, and is celebrated for its classic service, contemporary food, striking décor, and unwavering attention to detail; it is both an exceptional and practical option whether your guests are local or international.

“Beyond that, there has been the development of the soft side of the business,” Mr Attard continues. “Namely the consolidation of our in-house Uplifting Lives programme, which sits at the heart of our culture – a culture rooted in the positive, open and creative characters of our team.”

After all, Corinthia Palace is known to be the spiritual home of Corinthia Hotels International – a now global brand that started right here, in Villa Corinthia, in the 1960s. “That means a JUNE/JULY 2019

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“We strive to be the champions of what we call ‘the best of Malta’, helping our guests to discover our island’s exceptional character and the elements that are truly Maltese.”

lot to us,” Mr Attard says. “We strive to be the champions of what we call ‘the best of Malta’, helping our guests to discover our island’s exceptional character and the elements that are truly Maltese.”

Looking to the future, Mr Attard explains that 2020 will see a consolidation of all the efforts that have gone into redefining Corinthia Palace over the last few years, bringing together the hardware and software

that will clearly position the hotel at this milestone moment.

“We are so proud of this award because it is merited by every single member of our team in recognition of their continual commitment to crafting unsurpassable

experiences for our guests. They go out of their way to really create something special for the discerning customers that choose Corinthia Palace, and endeavour to showcase Malta in the light that it deserves to be seen.” cc

Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa recently unveiled its Mdina Meeting Room, adjacent to the new Executive Lounge. The Mdina has since become a very popular location for local businesses to hold important board meetings, seminars and intimate events. The Executive Lounge is exclusively for guests staying in the hotel’s suites and executive rooms, and it serves complimentary tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, juices and snacks throughout the day, as well as afternoon tea, and wine, spirits and canapés in the evening.

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NOUV – Driving positive impact on business From catering start-ups to decades-old family businesses, NOUV is the advisory firm that’s thinking outside the box on how to make progress. Jo Caruana meets founder Mark Aquilina to find out how.

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he catalyst that compels businesspeople to launch their own entity can vary substantially between individuals. For some, it’s the desire to do something differently. For others, it’s the need to bring a new idea to the market. For others still, it’s a personal experience that makes them want to make a change.

NOUV founder Mark Aquilina fits neatly into the latter category. After returning from the Gulf in 2007 and experiencing the birth of his son, he felt that he needed a new challenge – one that could make a positive impact on other people and possibly improve their business life.

“Thus, in January 2008, I set out on a journey called NOUV (that’s the word ‘Nouvelle’ split in half) and started providing traditional accounting services to micro

companies and SMEs, particularly to the growing number of local start-ups,” he explains with a smile.

But things didn’t stop there. Over the years, the company grew, and NOUV’s initial clients grew with it – helping Mr Aquilina and his team to better understand their very own potential for more growth.

“From the outset, I wanted the company to have – as its main commitment – the drive to achieve our clients’ goals without ever undermining our integrity and professionalism. I firmly believe that it is only by showing integrity that we can be effective contributors to our clients’ success.”

This dedication to professionalism has long been part of Mr Aquilina’s ethos.

Looking back on his career, he highlights how he started his own journey in the consultancy

“The belief that people come first must be the fundamental principle on which the growth of any organisation is built.”

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division of Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. After eight years there, he joined Avis & Budget Malta, where he served as the Group’s financial controller for three years before accepting a financial controller position with one of the largest groups in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. It was after that that he returned to Malta – a decision he never looked back on.

“In a nutshell, today NOUV is a multidisciplinary firm that helps organisations identify, design and execute their strategy by focusing on creating the change that matters by working together with our clients and partnering with industry experts to develop and realise business goals,” he says.

“Technically speaking, we are certified public accountants, practising auditors, company service providers (licensed by the Accountancy Board and the MFSA, respectively), and certified information systems auditors. But we are also much more than that.”

Mr Aquilina explains that the company is managed by a core team of five partners, each responsible for their area of speciality, namely Corporate, Business & Management Consultancy, Audit & Tax, Technology and Legal. “I head the corporate arm, a support function that provides a full range of corporate services, from the incorporation of companies to ongoing statutory and administration services,” he says. “We are licensed by the MFSA to act as Company Service Providers.”

Beyond that, at NOUV, business and management consultancy intertwines with technology services, helping their clients transform and grow their organisations. These arms are headed by Tonio Farrugia, Anthony Sammut and Andrew Naudi respectively, whereas James Ellul is the company’s audit and assurance partner heading the audit and tax arm. “Together, we head an operation of around 30 professionals who service local and international clients who come from various sectors such as family businesses and entrepreneurs, foreign investors, gaming operators, corporations, and NGOs,” Mr Aquilina says. “We also collaborate with industry experts who assist us in various projects and assignments.”

In fact, Mr Aquilina goes on to explain that the company is particularly specialised when it comes to working with small businesses.

“We understand that most Maltese companies are family-owned or find their roots as family businesses,” he continues. “The management of a family business is a very complex task because you aren’t just dealing with a company structure but with a structure that carries a very heavy emotional load.

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Dr Anthony Sammut, Mark Aquilina, Tonio Farrugia, Andrew Naudi and James Ellul, the five partners leading NOUV.

“A family business is everyone’s baby and therefore, change becomes a struggle, even when the family members know that it is the only way forward. We come in at a crucial stage where the most important thing is to put the right people in place to make that change possible. The belief that people come first must be the fundamental principle on which the growth of any organisation is built. We enter the picture as the outsiders who give companies a clear non-emotional picture of where their business stands and who mediate between family members by helping them set out the basic values of the organisation to fit into its vision. It is only when a solid corporate culture is in place that we can start breathing renewed life back in.

Of course, there can never be a ‘one size fits all’ model, but our experience has taught us that every business that seeks a new lease of life needs to build its culture on four basic values – learning, integrity, fairness and effectiveness.”

And it is this multifaceted approach that has underlined the NOUV vision since day one – and the company is now very close to achieving that goal. “It is so important for any business to set a strategy and to work hard towards realising it, and NOUV was no exception to that rule,” Mr Aquilina says. “Over the years, we built the brand, backbone structure and a reputation as a firm that is really interested in helping businesses succeed. Through networking with people of common interest, we JUNE/JULY 2019

managed to attract the right partners and, today, I can say that the collective knowledge of the five partners, combined with those of key personnel, strengthens the professional opinion we give to our clients. Our greatest satisfaction is and will always be derived from our direct participation in the evolution and success of our clients’ businesses.”

And there have been many success stories for the NOUV approach, such as Bels English Language School, which has been outsourcing its financial function to the company for the past five years and to whom they provide accounting, financial planning and business advisory services. In 2017, the company was entrusted by The Coingaming Group to reorganise and subsequently assist their finance function, including designing the necessary management and KPIs reporting, introducing the necessary internal controls and procedures, and carrying out systems and financial audit. The group has offices in Estonia, Ukraine, the UK, and Malaysia and employs more than 300 people.

Furthermore, it is an award-winning group with brands such as Bitcasino, has twice been recognised at the prestigious EGR Operator Awards, and was nominated in 2016 for the Rising Star category and in 2017 for the Slots Operator category.

But of course – while success has been ongoing for the company – business isn’t without its challenges. Mr Aquilina stresses

that, as NOUV operates in the financial management and services sector, trust and peace of mind are two extremely important assets that businesses seek. “The sector has been a strong pillar in the Maltese economy for many years, and Malta has carved a reputable niche for itself, asserting its competitiveness even on an international level. However, recent events have clouded the island’s reputation, and all operators need to pull the same rope to retain what the country has achieved to date. Therefore, the biggest challenge the sector is facing at the moment is continuing to offer the same level of trust and professionalism it has offered in the past.”

That aside, though, the team at NOUV steadfastly plan to focus on the company’s steady growth and will seek a quality of service that has a positive impact on organisations and on business owners’ lives.

“Besides focusing on adding more services and team players, we will also continue to promise our iGaming specialist services, while contributing to the protection of the industry by promoting responsible gaming driven by Artificial Intelligence.

In addition, in the coming months we will also launch a new offering dedicated to the catering and hospitality industry.”

“Over and above, we remain committed to our newly shaped tagline 'Strategy – Change – Development'. We believe it best conveys the way we operate now, and will continue to operate in the future,” Mr Aquilina adds. cc 39

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Transporting super yachts in the Med in 24 hours Transporting the 53rd longest super yacht in the world is no easy feat. Organising the logistics to transport the 500-tonne super yacht in under 24 hours, in the cold, windy month of January gets even more complicated. Kurt Camilleri of O&S Shipping talks Helena Grech through the entire process.

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itting in the cool offices of O&S Shipping in Marsa, Managing Director Kurt Camilleri is straightforward and matter-of-fact about the efforts required to transport a 95-metre super yacht onto another ship and out of Maltese waters. He has been in the freight and shipping industry for the past 17 years, and has been handling yacht transportation since around 2013.

Mr Camilleri is no stranger to the maritime sector, with many of his relatives having been sailors, port workers and customs officers.

Back in January 2019, he organised the vessel, port agency and logistics to transport a super yacht named My Neom.

Previously known as the Indian Empress, the yacht went through a series of unfortunate and fortunate events, resulting in the ultra-luxurious yacht winding up in a 40

Maltese marina, while international yacht transportation company DYT were tasked with organising its transport to Cartagena, Spain. Its new owners intend to refit and eventually charter the yacht to high-end holidaymakers in Europe and beyond.

In this particular case, the yacht couldn’t sail on its own power, and he explained that for an operation of this size, there are three possible transport options. The first one would be to tow the yacht across the Mediterranean, which comes with a host of issues. Mr Camilleri stresses that yachts are not designed to be towed across high seas and hence there is a risk of causing damage.

Another issue is the cost associated with towing a yacht. He says that it is not simply a matter of hiring one tugboat and tying the yacht to the tugboat, but rather, some three

service boats/tugboats would need to be used, and this does not come at a small cost.

The final issue would be the time needed to tow a yacht across the Mediterranean, which is unpractical and unfeasible.

The second option is a process Mr Camilleri and his team call ‘water to water’ or ‘piggy-back transport,’ whereby a geared vessel would lift the yacht from water with her own crane, place it on the deck and discharge it in water at the destination. This method is most often employed by O&S, however due to the narrow timeframe in which the yacht needed to be transported, Mr Camilleri explains that there were no vessels available in Europe with the capability of lifting the 500-metric-tonne Neom.

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“The biggest headache when coordinating an operation of this magnitude is making sure you take all the moving parts and relevant factors into consideration before the operation begins.”

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yacht-carrying vessel named the Super Servant 4 – a semi-submersible vessel dedicated to yacht relocation around the world.

Mr Camilleri reveals that the last port of call of the vessel was in the USA, and it made its way to Malta for the sole purpose of transporting the super yacht.

“We [O&S] as the local agents organise the port agency, logistics and all coordination required for DYT Yacht Transport,” he says.

Launching into a simplified explanation of how yachts are transported onto the Super Servant 4, Mr Camilleri says that once the vessel is all fast, the necessary rigging, wooden beams, frames and equipment are positioned on deck prior to being submerged underwater, giving the impression of open water surrounded by metal railings, with the ship’s bridge and accommodation area remaining above water.

The rectangular softwood blocks are lined up in a row and are intended to land the V-shaped yacht once the vessel pumps out all the sea water and goes back up above sea level. It is further supported by ‘A-frames’ positioned on either side of Neom by a team of divers before the yacht and vessel are brought back up above sea level and eventually welded on deck by a group of welders and lashed by riggers.

The vessel takes roughly four hours to fully submerge, while its impressive pumps work for around four hours to emerge, leaving the deck and the super yacht dry and ready for transportation.

“All in all, the biggest headache when coordinating an operation of this magnitude is making sure you take all the moving parts and relevant factors into consideration

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before the operation begins. You cannot start the transport of the yacht onto the Super Servant 4 and stop midway due to some unforeseen circumstance. You need to make all the necessary plans, considerations and coordination before actually starting,” Mr Camilleri remarks.

Moreover, the mission was further complicated by the strong winds which plagued the island in January. He says that usually, a yacht-transfer of this size would be carried out at an assigned anchorage area, however the wind did not permit such an operation. Due to the circumstances, Mr Camilleri had to convince the authorities to allow the operation within the Valletta port.

In view of all the considerations needed, before being given the green light by the authorities, DYT and O&S were required to commission a full risk assessment.

Presenting the risk assessment, Mr Camilleri highlights the incredible detail that it goes into. The risk assessment takes any and every consideration into account in order to make assessments. It delves into sea currents, wind speed, details of the vessel itself and a whole host of other factors which to the untrained eye may seem irrelevant.

After getting the green light, another significant issue which arose was the sea depth of the port. The vessel submerges 12 metres below sea level, whereas the sea depth of the intended area for the operation to take place was 13 metres deep. However, a ballasting system used to adjust the vessel as it is coming back up above water requires more leeway than its 12-metre depth, meaning the vessel had to pick a deeper spot within the port, eventually managing to secure an area which reaches 17 metres in depth through placement of barges on the original quay.

“The entire operation has to be planned in the matter of one week. Everything happens very suddenly, so you have to be 42

on the ball. All things considered, an error in the process could cost millions and tarnish one’s reputation, and worse still, an error could injure or even kill one of the workers involved, so there is a lot of pressure to get things right,” he contends.

To provide a clearer picture of the swiftness of the operation, Mr Camilleri explains that the Super Servant 4 arrived in Malta at the pilot station on 8th January at 5.30am and was all fast at 7.35am. The entire mission was undertaken in just over 24 hours, with the yacht strapped onto the vessel’s deck completely sea fastened on 9th January at 9am.

All in all, some 80 personnel are required to pull the whole operation off. The team is composed of a combination of agents, loadmasters, ship’s master and crew, divers, welders, stevedores, pilots, mooring men, tug operators and mooring boat operators.

Mr Camilleri reveals that his team handles the transportation of yachts through semisubmersible vessels around once or twice a year in Malta. He adds that between May and September, yacht transport as cargo, using the piggy-back method, is carried out around three to four times a month.

Asked to explain the origins of this complex industry in Malta, he says that a few years ago, when the Maltese Government changed its yacht leasing structure regulations, yachts were required to make their way physically to Malta in order to complete the procedure.

“When this development was unfolding, I foresaw that we could create a regular yacht transport service to and from Malta, and I discussed the opportunities with yacht transportation company Sevenstar at that time. Initially they thought I was joking, but in time this industry started to flourish,” he says.

Malta faces stiff competition from its European neighbours in the Mediterranean,

“Initially they thought I was joking, but in time this industry started to flourish.”

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however a good reputation for hard work and reliability has ensured a steady flow of business.

Global recovery from the 2008 financial crisis also saw a steady increase in the number of yacht owners and chartered yachts.

He says that an issue which people do not often consider when discussing yacht transportation is that when an agreement is signed to purchase a yacht, very often the contract stipulates that it is transported to its registered port with zero-engine hours. This means that the yacht cannot be sailed to its

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intended destination, even if it is a relatively short distance.

For longer distances, yacht transport as cargo is necessary as many luxury super yachts would not have enough fuel autonomy to cover the whole voyage across oceans.

Often, requests are made for luxury yachts to be transported between the Caribbean, Europe and the Med, which is an incredibly long journey.

Added to this, if the yacht is being transported from certain hotspots, insurance will not cover the yacht unless it is transported as cargo or escorted by anti-piracy vessels. An

example of this is a yacht that is transported from Australia to the Mediterranean. Such boats would need to be transported through the Suez Canal, meaning they will have to pass through the Gulf of Aden, an area notorious for piracy.

O&S Shipping Ltd provides logistics, yachting and agency services to local and foreign clientele. Its long experience within the field has allowed Mr Camilleri to successfully generate activity in the yacht transport business following its growth through proactiveness and regulatory changes. cc

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The Malta underground: The journey towards a mass transit system With bumper-to-bumper traffic flaring tempers, and the contentious proposals for a Gozo car tunnel swiftly approved in Parliament, calls for a revolution in the way we see transport have recently made the headlines.

Structural engineer and architect, Dr Konrad Xuereb, has been one of the most notable advocates for change, proposing a metro system as the solution to our current woes. Here, Rebecca Anastasi finds out more.

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etting from A to B in Malta has become a fraught affair. The steady, and incessant, increase in traffic shows no signs of abating, with frequent road works exacerbating the congestion on the roads. Moreover, figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) earlier on this year confirmed that, by the end of March 2019, the stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 387,775. This means that 84 per

cent of the entire population owns, and uses, a car, and, on an island measuring just 27km by 14.5km, it is evident that we’re heading towards gridlock.

To counteract critics clamouring for an urgent solution, Government announced a series of road widening exercises, though these have been met with chagrin, by those who point out that this will not solve the issue of congestion, and with dismay by

environmentalists who point to the resulting destruction of centuries-old trees. Moreover, the Gozo car tunnel project, which recently received backing from Parliament, has also raised red flags, with concerns over the loss of pristine natural land, and the persistent over-reliance on road transport.

In reaction to the challenges, in an opinion piece published in The Times of Malta on 29th July 2018 – and followed up with a series of similar articles over the past 11 months – structural engineer and architect Dr Konrad Xuereb suggested it may be time for Malta to finally embrace a mass transit system

“We’ve done a lot of pro bono work, and a lot of research to get the details just right. Malta needs a mass transit system, and we think the idea of a metro solves it.”

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Photos by Alan Carville

designed to carry people efficiently: a metro.

“Just widening and creating new roads doesn’t work. Traffic just shifts, so you just end up wondering ‘where will it move to next’? And that’s why we came up with this solution,” Dr Xuereb says, as we sit in the Valletta office of his firm, KonceptX. “We’ve done a lot of pro bono work, and a lot of research to get the details just right. Malta needs a mass transit system, and we think the idea of a metro solves it.”

Dr Xuereb is, indeed, no stranger to large-scale infrastructural projects, having worked on bridges, underground lines and high-rises in the United Kingdom, UAE and in Scandinavia, throughout his 19 years in the profession. He graduated from the University of Malta, moving to Milan immediately afterwards to complete his Masters in structural engineering. An opportunity to work with a big architectural firm in London spurred him to make another move, this time to the English capital, where he stayed for the next 14 years, working as an associate at JUNE/JULY 2019

“The whole notion that the solution to congestion is widening roads will bring us to a point where we’ll have no more place to widen and to build.”

Alan Baxter & Associates (ABA), and, later, at the multinational firm Arup for seven years.

While in the UK, Dr Xuereb also completed his PhD in futureproofing buildings at UCL, and opened his practice in London, in 2015, while garnering invaluable insight working on the structural engineering design of, among others, the Scale Lane Bridge in Hull, a pedestrian openable crossing; the 130m long Castleford Bridge in Yorkshire; as well as, further afield, the 30-storey Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi that feature an adaptive façade.

More pertinently, while working for both ABA and Arup, he got invaluable insight in the complex infrastructural project for London’s new underground railway, Crossrail, transformed into the Elizabeth Line, which is set to shuttle commuters from Reading

and Heathrow to the west and east of the city. And, locally, his proposal for a Maltese metro system is built upon these years of experience working in the field, across the globe.

“We need to learn from what has happened elsewhere. I’ve worked in the United Kingdom for 18 years, so I can relate to a lot of the work there. And, the whole notion that the solution to congestion is widening roads will bring us to a point where we’ll have no more place to widen and to build,” Dr Xuereb says. He is similarly critical of the Gozo car tunnel and expresses his concerns over the environmental and archaeological risks – stating that the ramps will “ruin the Pwales valley” – and safety, should disaster strike.

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“Another issue with the car tunnel is that this will stretch from Nadur to Manikata.

That’s the length of Gozo. Each car poses a safety risk. What happens if a fire starts? I have three young children. Am I going to walk seven or eight kilometres, half the length of Gozo, with the kids? The car tunnel will probably kill off the ferry service. And, if there’s a fire, and the car tunnel closes for some years for repair and there is no ferry, Gozo is cut off,” he affirms.

In contrast, the metro, he explains, will be part of a “multi-modal system”, which means that it is complementary to other types of transportation systems, such as the ferry, buses or cycling routes. “And, with a metro you know you’re going to get there in the time you estimated,” he says. Indeed, to ensure efficiency, KonceptX’s proposed plan maps out a line which loops to capture the largest amount of people, in the busiest areas.

“Most people reside, or are based in, the harbour area as well as Mellieha and St Paul’s Bay. So, the first line will start off in the north and head to the centres, including Paceville, St Julian’s, Sliema, Msida (hospital and university) as well as Valletta, coiling to get Paola, Zejtun, Birzebbuga and the airport.

That captures half the population on the island and three-quarters of the tourists,” he explains. Moreover, and as has been reported already in the media, a second connection will then link St Paul’s Bay to the airport, also linking with Qormi, the business centre of Mriehel, Birkirkara and Mosta, in a 10km stretch, while the last element of the project consists of an extension to Gozo. “What we JUNE/JULY 2019

“For Malta, this is a no brainer. The underground will capture the greatest amount of people, with the least amount of underground line, and it will also connect Gozo, which will open up new tourism and business opportunities.” think would be best is to create the metro tunnel closer to Comino (due to shallower waters), create a stop at Xewkija or Mgarr, and then head to Rabat. There is a debate on whether this should stretch to Marsalforn or not, but this is a conceptual route, at this stage.” He underlines that there has been interest from Gozo since the metro solves a fundamental issue for the islanders: how to get to Malta and back quickly and reliably.

Car use will nearly half since transport from each “node” – each metro station – to other towns will be available, through a system of bus routes. “For Malta, this is a no brainer. The metro will capture the greatest amount of people, with the least amount of underground line, and it will also connect Gozo, which will open up new tourism and business opportunities. Visitors will be able to arrive in Luqa and get there in just over 30 minutes, without having to rent a car,” he explains.

And, less time on the road will minimise the wider long-term health issues, as a result of congestion and pollution, since less time is wasted standing still in needless traffic.

“When we first came up with this proposal, we calculated that if, on average, a person waits 15 minutes in traffic each way, every day, the country is actually wasting €75 million in lost productivity. And, that’s not calculating the health bill. How much is it costing our

hospitals to treat people getting sick? With the metro, the health bill will be cheaper and there will be less chronic illnesses since people will walk more and breath fresher air,” he explains.

Dr Xuereb’s proposal is based on his firm’s exploration of several factors. “We researched how much a train would cost; how much energy it consumes; how deep the tunnels should go; where the stations would be; how many stations are required; how much maintenance would cost. Some of the information we found was readily available, but we harmonised it to Malta. For example, construction costs can be a bit lower on the island, and we integrated that into our calculations. So, we’ve worked out the figures, and even with the population numbers we have today, this is a viable proposition.”

The structural engineer says that this nation-wide transport system will cost nearly four billion euro, according to the firm’s calculations, with annual costs of €150 million a year, including maintenance, energy costs and salaries. But, according to their research, on a ticket of €1.75 per person – and taking the population of Malta, plus the 2.5 million tourists the island attracts per year – the annual income should amount to €300 million. “This includes advertising, and leasing of retail space in stations.”

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CC interview With regards to the upfront capital needed, the project will be eligible for EU funding – while the car tunnel would not – and the Government can issue bonds to raise some of the remaining funds. I’m sure there are people willing to invest and buy bonds since, in this case, the value of the investment will increase. Considering these approaches, I don’t see why this shouldn’t be doable financially,” he asserts.

Moreover, jobs will be created, Dr Xuereb says. “Crossrail entailed 120 million working hours during construction. This is, of course, much more than what it would take in the case of a metro here in Malta, but we would still require a substantial workforce. And, the entity – once set up – will then easily, directly, employ over 1,000 people: train drivers; staff manning each station; IT professionals and so on.”

Dr Xuereb emphasises the need for further studies, and for a proper discussion

“With regards to the upfront capital needed, the project will be eligible for EU funding – while the car tunnel would not – and the Government can issue bonds to raise some of the remaining funds.”

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at the higher levels of the country’s institutions, making it a point to stress that his proposal is apolitical. “In the UK, the Crossrail Bill – which approved the project – was first debated in the House of Commons; then it went to the House of Lords. It went back and forth, until there was consent, taking three years in all to become an Act in 2008. You need a vision towards which the country will move forward. Nearly four years of studies would also be required for a project like this before construction can start. Some studies have already been carried out, focusing on the connection between Malta and Gozo, and in relation to the car tunnel, but the beauty of our proposal is that these studies are not wasted and are of relevance to our metro project, which will solve problems on a nationwide level.”

Such studies would also involve analysing what to do with the waste material, though Dr Xuereb insists it could be sensitively used for land reclamation to create a space which can be enjoyed by the public, stating that this is what was decided in the case of London’s Crossrail, where over three million tonnes of excavated earth were taken out on barges and used to create Wallasea Island, on the Thames Estuary, a wildlife habitat. “You will have inert spoil, so why not, perhaps, create an off-shore wind farm, since Malta is a windy island. Or you could create a nature reserve or a solar farm. People enjoy natural habitats at the weekend, and you could even take your kids there.”

Finally, Dr Xuereb underlines his appreciation for the reaction his proposals have spurred. “What pleases me is that there has been no tangible counterargument to this, which shows the solidity of what we’ve presented,” he concludes. cc JUNE/JULY 2019

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Express Trailers’ latest ad campaign: A legacy of carrying life’s essentials When the new city of Valletta was built, the lack of a fresh water supply was a growing issue. How could a city flourish without the most essential resource? In April of 1615, after five years of hard work, Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt inaugurated the aqueduct project which ensured a constant supply of freshwater to Valletta.

“T

he aqueduct was engineered to deliver water, the most essential resource, to Valletta.

Express Trailers is engineered to deliver essential goods and commodities. Just as the aqueduct delivered the most important and essential element needed for the city of Valletta to grow and thrive, so is Express Trailers engineered to deliver the many essential things we need in our daily life,” explains Franco Azzopardi, Chairman and CEO of Express Trailers.

The historic aqueduct was chosen by Express Trailers to feature in its latest advertising campaign. Photography was again entrusted to renowned photographer Rene Rossignaud. The new visuals feature the unmistakable orange trailer driving down Notabile Road in Mrieħel by the aqueduct.

“When we began to explore the imagery of the aqueduct and how this could translate the messages that we want to communicate, we started to see a lot of parallels. The first was between the aqueduct as an innovation. It is our culture at Express Trailers to be innovative, to think outside the box, to be inventive of processes that are implementable.”

“Ultimately, just as the aqueduct helped

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Valletta and its growing population thrive, it is through the services that Express Trailers has been offering since the post-war years that our business clients and customers could keep growing and thriving. This is the raison d'être of our chosen visuals for this year,” says Mr Azzopardi.

The imagery is also representative of Express Trailers’ legacy based on the three main values of Excellence, Experience and Expertise.

“The aqueduct was designed by experts who passed on their expertise to others, and regaled the country with a structure which till today is regarded as a feat and an example of engineering excellence,” adds Mr Azzopardi.

He adds that the new campaign turned out to be an important exercise for Express Trailers to reinterpret the way it is being perceived by those outside of the company, the values they see in the company and what makes them want to work with it.

“The values we are trying to communicate in these new visuals reflect much of the image that our customers have of us as a prestigious company with a long history and that its long years of experience make it a leader in the sector,” explains Mr Azzopardi.

Beyond the legacy Beyond its history and legacy, the company is now looking to the future as its current focus and is investing in this aspect of the business as it foresees increased commercial activity.

“Express Trailers always harboured a lot of respect for its past and its roots. At the same time, it always remained faithful to a future of further growth through investment and application of technologies for better management of its operations. We have been pioneering our own logistics and transport management system for the past 30 years and currently, we are about to start actioning a completely new IT system developed specifically for us to optimise on resources and time. This new software, the culmination of a three-year project, went live last month for our full load shipments.”

Mr Azzopardi adds that big developments taking shape in the spheres of blockchain and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are encouraging Express Trailers to explore new business opportunities.

“Even if at Express Trailers we have been using legacy bespoke software for the last 30 years, this project is major surgery both in terms of costs and retraining of people. The outcome of this project is expected to hit a triple bottom-line: operational efficiencies, JUNE/JULY 2019

CC LOGISTICS

business intelligence and customer engagement.”

“We are talking about technologies that give first attempt solutions. In logistics, we speak of explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge; there’s the knowledge acquired through transmission and training, but then, there is the acquired experience that goes beyond automatable processes, such as managing risks. Technology and software can take over the repetitive aspects of logistics but then there is the experience that can never be transposed into code. This is where Express Trailers’ uniqueness comes into play.”

Franco Azzopardi’s conviction is that in 2019, Express Trailers should not only be about transport and logistics but about the much wider aspect of innovation.

“We were looking at innovation when we developed ShipLowCost.com to address the emerging challenges of online shopping to Malta. We sought innovation when we decided to work with DataByte who helped us introduce the concept of Managed Warehousing and invested in the building of a cloud-based Warehouse Management System to be able to offer innovative thirdparty logistics solutions.”

“The very idea of WeAreOrange was, in JUNE/JULY 2019

itself, an innovation too, as we blended our image with the values that best represent our company culture and we managed to make this our people’s motto. What followed was a new way of communicating our company both within and beyond the

building. It is our way of imprinting and forging our brand within the company among our people, and in the wider marketplace,” concludes Mr Azzopardi. cc www.expressgroup.com

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CC BUSINESS

Marsovin: 100 years of winemaking A century is a milestone that few businesses in Malta reach – but Marsovin is one of them. Here, Marsovin CEO Jeremy Cassar talks Jo Caruana through the brand’s incredible history, as well as the fine-tuned strategy that has enabled it to become the most forward-thinking winery on the island.

W

hen you consider the brands that have the most clout in Malta, Marsovin doubtlessly comes to mind. Established by Anthony (Tonin) Cassar in 1919, it has grown to become a household name and one of the most successful examples of family succession in Malta’s business history.

The fact that Marsovin is currently celebrating its centenary year is no doubt testament to the many family members and their teams that have pulled together to make it a success over the decades. Today, CEO Jeremy Cassar is the one heading the team, and it is his vision driving the many changes that the company is taking to ensure success in this milestone year, and to secure its position into the future.

“The wine-making sector has changed so much over the last 10 years,” Mr Cassar tells

me. “Ours is a slow-moving sector, so change doesn’t come every couple of years as it does in some businesses. However, our focus has been on moving our wines even further up the scale of quality, as quality is what people are looking for more than ever. This is only set to continue further, and now it is a question of trying to give excellent value for money with Maltese wines.”

Asked about Malta’s wine sector as a whole, Mr Cassar says this is moving in the right direction, whereby indigenous Maltese varieties are more valuable than they used to be. “This is the result of years of investment,” he continues, “as we introduced wines that were specifically produced using indigenous varieties, alongside our wines produced using international varieties. We have been broadening the range, maximising on varieties, and have found that both sets now

“We respect the culture of wine and we will strive to carry it forward to as long as possible.”

produce very good wines and have a good quality/price ratio. Our focus now is to keep working on this so as to further establish Marsovin’s quality standards within the market.”

Of course, one of the related challenges is the fact that Malta’s wine market is an open market – with plenty of importation competition, as well as high consumption rates. “Thankfully this is becoming more of a quality market, and isn’t just about volume anymore,” Mr Cassar says. “This is a natural cycle. As time goes on, people are learning 52

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what quality in the wine world is all about, and they are automatically up-scaling their purchases to match. They want to spend a bit more, and are looking forward to trying a different variety from a country they haven’t tried before, so it is all the more experimental.”

“This is fantastic news for us because we have been preparing for this for a long time, as part of our 30-year plan. Our boutique wines fit this bill perfectly — our barrel-aged reds, our traditional-method sparkling wine produced 20 years ago, and our organic JUNE/JULY 2019

Marnisi. We are very happy with where we stand today in terms of quality, and only have plans to improve this further.”

Now, with 100 years of Marsovin behind him and the future wide open, Mr Cassar highlights how the long-term substance of the company will depend on the team’s ability to break the barriers of quality. So, he is making it his mission to always raise the bar higher and higher, and to stay ahead of the game. “We don’t just look at Maltese wineries,” he says, “but consider our biggest competitor wines to be from Italy, Spain

and France. We have to compete on that level playing field, and we are continuously working very hard to remain competitive.”

But heritage – and the fact that Marsovin is now 100 – is big news for the industry.

“Heritage in wineries is a big deal; some of the most prestigious wineries in the world have been around for centuries, with some of them producing for 14 generations,” Mr Cassar says. “We’re not quite at 14 generations yet, but we do understand the commitment needed for us to be able to keep building over the years.”

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“Going forward, we’re looking more and more at organic wine, and trying to grow that further, among other things.”

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“We respect the culture of wine and we will strive to carry it forward for as long as possible. As a family, it feels good and satisfying for us to be able to lead the winery into its 101st year. I am focused on ensuring that, in my tenure, the winery continues to improve and to grow, not just in terms of business success, but more so in terms of its richness in heritage and culture.”

With this in mind, Mr Cassar says that he, the family and the Marsovin team are constantly working on new ideas for what they might like to produce in four or five years’ time. “We are obviously working with new varieties of grape and keeping in touch with what is most popular and what’s not.

The past five years have been dedicated to working towards our anniversary and producing our special anniversary wine that is now available – and it has been very well received.”

“Going forward, we’re looking more and more at organic wine, and trying to grow that further, among other things. It’s not easy but, as an agricultural business, we have to have the best techniques and right philosophy when it comes to working with nature. We

need more farmers too, as there certainly aren’t enough as it stands. So one of our biggest challenges over the next five years will be to continue to incentivise farmers to work in viticulture, and to then work in a culture that focuses on quality.”

As for the 110th anniversary… I wonder where Mr Cassar hopes the company will be then. “Well, there is no such thing as a 10-year plan in this business,” he smiles, “but we will certainly have made more strides forward. I see Marsovin looking like a winery that is going to be better than it’s ever been, producing better wines than we ever did.”

“As we go into our second century, we all have the obligation to do a better job than ever before. As a leading wine producer and someone who absolutely loves what he does, I tend to surround myself with people who are passionate about the sector and that have the right ethics, so I know we will continue to get even better. We invite people to come over and to get to know us, or get to know us even better. We hope they will share a bit of our passion and our history, and also join us on our journey into the future of quality wine making in Malta.” cc JUNE/JULY 2019

FOOD&WINE

Food Trends

For those of us who like their food a little more than is strictly necessary, it’s always fun to watch out for the latest trends.

Sarah Micallef discovers what’s hot in the world of food.

01. Sri Lankan cuisine Delectable cuisine from Sri Lanka has been mistakenly lumped in with Indian food among Westerners for years, but it’s finally set to get the recognition it deserves. Favourite dishes include hoppers (bowl-shaped rice flour pancakes), kottu roti (fried veg, eggs, shredded roti and curry) and pol sambol coconut relish.

02. Meat-free Our attitude to meat is changing, and the change is swift. With more and more people identifying as vegan, and more still choosing to go meat-free several times a week, veganism is going mainstream, and restaurants are taking note. This also applies to high-end options, with vegan fine dining becoming a thing! From carrot tartare to beetroot caviar, Michelin-starred restaurants are jumping on the vegan bandwagon, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with.

03. ‘Rescued’ food It’s a sad reality that so much fruit and veg goes to waste, just because it’s not considered ‘pretty’ enough to line supermarket shelves. Well, no longer.

Now, misshapen fruit and veg the world over is being rescued and given a second chance in the form of crisps, hummus spreads and green drinks. Dubbed ‘tasty garbage’ and ‘ugly veg’, it’s a fantastic way to avoid unnecessary food waste.

05.

Food to Glow

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01.

Serious Eats

04. Low or no alcohol While it may come as a surprise to some, alcohol consumption is steadily decreasing, as going on the booze becomes less and less cool. From low ABV craft beers to mocktails, younger generations are drinking less, as no or low alcohol gains ground among sophisticated circles.

05. All about the crunch There’s just something about crisp foods which make an audible crunch that we love, and it seems that they’re having a moment in 2019. Food trend predictions include more puffed, crisped and popped foods like pasta, seaweed and rice, making their way onto menus this year. cc

02.

Waitrr

03.

Wired

04.

The Brewers Journal

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CHAMBER/84

NEWS Events & Initiatives

01. Tenders must not be adjudicated to businesses in breach of any law In a statement to all media in April, the Malta Chamber said it had always considered transparency and good governance in public procurement processes as fundamental to ensure a level playing field within a business environment where fair competition wasn’t only upheld, but is also seen to be upheld.

"As clearly regulated, even by the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD), at bidding stage, businesses are no longer required to provide certification of compliance from fiscal authorities until adjudication phase. This serves to avoid undue and unnecessary administrative burdens to companies as well as to the tendering process itself," said the Chamber.

The statement noted that as a result of the enactment of the ESPD in 2016, this and other regulations had become standard practice across the EU, and were widely accepted by all members of the business community.

Indeed, the Malta Chamber noted how these were presented and discussed during two very well attended separate events on the subject organised by the same Chamber.

"The Malta Chamber is therefore dismayed to learn of inconsistencies that have reportedly taken place as of late, and that have only come to the fore in the media. The Chamber is aware of and happy to note a ruling by the Public Contracts Review Board which clearly admonished the contracting authority in question and ordered it to correct its inconsistencies."

In light of this, the Malta Chamber reiterated its position that such inconsistencies were not acceptable as they ran counter to the very principle of a fair and open tendering process.

02. Chamber Economic Groups Executive Boards set The Executive Boards which lead the respective Economic Groups that constitute the Chamber were elected in April, and are in the process of hitting the ground running, as they kick off their ambitious two-year term programmes.

Following the Council election in March and the election of Perit David Xuereb as President, it was then the turn of the Board of Management, which is tasked with advising Council on policy matters and the administration of the Chamber.

Members of the Council are in turn organised into their own Economic Groups as the Executive Boards, which are led by a chairperson, to discuss issues that are specific to the nature of the group they represent.

The Economic Groups Executive Boards and Chairpersons for 2019-2021 are as follows: SERVICE PROVIDERS ECONOMIC GROUP Matthew Ellul Sullivan - Chairman Marcel Cutajar - Deputy Chairman Dr Alison Vassallo - Vice Chairman Hugh Arrigo Elizabeth Barbaro Sant Ian Casolani MANUFACTURERS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES ECONOMIC GROUP Patrick Cachia - Chairman Nicholas Xuereb- Deputy Chairman Joseph Pace - Vice Chairman Marisa Xuereb Matthias Fauser Ruben Cuschieri Co-opted Brian Muscat Doreen Cutrona

IMPORTERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND RETAILERS ECONOMIC GROUP Christopher Vassallo Cesareo - Chairman Anthony Tabone - Deputy Chairman Charles Zahra - Vice Chairman Frank V. Farrugia Andrew W. J. Mamo Reginald Fava Co-opted Marcel K. Mifsud Charles Borg

03. Malta Chamber delegation meets President of Malta President Perit David Xuereb, together with the newly elected Board of Management of the Malta Chamber met with the President of Malta, His Excellency Dr George Vella on 18th April.

During the courtesy visit which took place at the President’s Palace in Valletta, Perit Xuereb shared the Chamber’s ambitions for the coming years with the Head of State.

While congratulating Dr Vella on his appointment, the President of the Chamber promised the organisation’s support and cooperation on his priorities and future endeavours. Mr Xuereb noted how the Malta Chamber has consistently collaborated very closely with every President of Malta, and has taken an active role, even on the international stage, to support relevant and sustainable business networking initiatives piloted by the office of the President.

For the delegation, Perit Xuereb was flanked by the Board of Management of the Chamber, namely Marisa Xuereb (Deputy President), Frank V. Farrugia (Vice-President), Liz Barbaro Sant and Matthias Fauser.

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04. Master plan urgently needed for Grand Harbour “The growth in Grand Harbour operations and its immediate surroundings has reconfirmed the urgency and importance for a master plan for the Valletta Grand Harbour,” said Perit David Xuereb, Malta Chamber President.

“Such a plan should aim at maximising efficiency and further increase business flow in Malta’s primary port,” Mr Xuereb said as he was opening an Information and Consultation Session on the Valletta Grand Harbour Regeneration Plan in April. The event was organised by the Malta Chamber in collaboration with the Malta Maritime Forum.

The President noted that the plan should take into account the social, economic and environmental concerns of the community, while also protecting the port’s historical and cultural heritage. “The Chamber believes that prior to the finalisation of the plan, an exhaustive consultation process is key to ensure that all organisations and stakeholder groups are given the opportunity to discuss issues and challenges,” Perit Xuereb said.

The information session proceeded with a presentation by Godwin Xerri, Board Member of the Malta Maritime Forum, who informed members present about the current activities of the Grand Harbour and its physical restrictions. Mr Xerri noted that the Grand Harbour has seen a steady annual increase from 2010 to 2018, in all its port activities namely general cargo, trailers and containers, ferries and cruise liner passengers, grain, cement, gravel, fuel, ship repair, tank cleaning, tugboats, vessel layup, floating dry docks, yacht marinas, fishing boats, Regatta and Fireworks Festival.

04.

05. Chamber delegation meets the Prime Minister The newly elected Board of Management of the Malta Chamber, led by the President Perit David Xuereb, met with Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat at his office in Valletta in April. During the cordial meeting, both sides promised to collaborate closely for the long-term benefit of Malta’s business sector and the economy at large.

During the meeting, Perit Xuereb informed

the Prime Minister of the Chamber’s work on a second Economic Vision for Malta – this time for 2021 and beyond.

Mr Xuereb said that once again, the document would include the visions and opinions of 25 champions of enterprise and industry in Malta. Work on the document was well underway, and it was hoped that the Chamber would be in a position to present the new document to the Prime Minister in the months to come.

The meeting proceeded to discuss issues relating to the White Paper about Rent Laws, compulsory union membership, the transposition of the Work-Life Balance Directive and Brexit.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, the Minister of Finance Edward Scicluna and the Minister for the Economy Chris Cardona.

Leading the Chamber delegation, Perit Xuereb was flanked by members of the Board of Management, namely Marisa Xuereb (Deputy President), Frank V. Farrugia (Vice-President), Liz Barbaro Sant, Hugh Arrigo and Andrew W. J. Mamo.

06. Bank of Valletta and Malta Chamber strengthen ties for benefit of Maltese businesses

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Bank of Valletta has renewed its Gold Sponsorship agreement with the JUNE/JULY 2019

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07. Members learn about new Employment Act Members of the Malta Chamber attended an information session about the new Employment and Training Services Act in May. The event which was organised by the Malta Chamber in collaboration with Jobsplus provided a detailed explanation about the principal changes that were enacted in the new law.

Mario Xuereb, Head of Division: Employment Services at Jobsplus, delivered a presentation in which he explained that the main changes concern new administrative penalties and fines concerning employment records and general employment.

Mr Xuereb explained that the new Act repeals the original act and the focus will be to bring compliance in terms of employment records and illegalities. He stated that through this new Act, Jobsplus is embarking on a compliance campaign as its main interest was that of bringing all operators in line with the law. If the initial approach failed, the new law empowered Jobsplus to take action against any form of illegality at the workplace, be it illegal employment of minors, foreign workers or lack of engagement or termination forms.

08. "STEM is the foundation on which every developed economy must establish its prosperity in the long-term"

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Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry in its bid to boost the local economy, strengthen the business community and engage with the market.

The collaborative agreement was signed by Malta Chamber President Perit David Xuereb and Deputy President Marisa Xuereb with Kenneth Farrugia Chief Business Development Officer (Investments) representing Bank of Valletta.

“In 2017, the bank and the Chamber had launched ‘The SME Toolkit’ – a specific tool for entrepreneurs with start-up ambitions to guide them through the crucial decisionmaking phases of setting up a company, such as the business plan, acquiring finance, legal, green credentials and marketing,” said Mr Xuereb. “This new agreement will focus on updating this toolkit to make it more relevant while updating its information and providing more hands-on advice.”

The Chamber and the bank are JUNE/JULY 2019

looking forward to continuing to build on the strong relationship they enjoy, by organising seminars on priority matters that add value to the business community such as occupational pension schemes, family businesses, access to finance and assistance to business start-ups.

“Bank of Valletta is all about connecting customers to opportunities, enabling local businesses to thrive and grow and in turn, the Maltese economy to prosper,” stated Mr Farrugia. “As the leader in the field of EU financial instruments, the bank can assist businesses in structuring their finance plan using Malta and EU funds and leveraging on the Bank’s EU Funding Intelligence through its representative office in Brussels.”

The Malta Chamber and Bank of Valletta will shortly be announcing a number of events and initiatives to provide assistance and support for SMEs and start-ups in accessing finance and growing their business.

"Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) should be the central focal point of our future development," said Andre Fenech, Malta Chamber’s Head of Policy Development, as he was addressing a STEM engagement conference co-organised by the University of Malta, MCAST and MCST in May. The conference was organised as a joint effort to engage the public and all stakeholders on the importance of STEM for the long-term development of the country.

The three organisations are currently drafting a strategy in this regard, and this event launched the national debate.

Mr Fenech noted that according to the EU agency CEDEFOP, by 2025, 26 per cent of all jobs will be in science, engineering, healthcare, business and teaching. Mr Fenech specified that STEM skills are directly linked with the new segments Malta is managing to attract, including FinTech, life science, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, and Artificial Intelligence among others.

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Mr Fenech said that Malta was still lagging behind other European peers and required further investment and new pedagogical techniques on how these subjects are taught at a young age. He stressed on the importance of apprenticeships and all forms of work-based learning for all students whilst investing in the lifelong learning and retraining of the current workforce.

Mr Fenech was speaking during a panel discussion which included Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri, Opposition spokesman Karl Gouder and Nicole Cini from Jobsplus. The event was further addressed by the University Rector, MCAST Principal and MCST Executive Chairman.

09. Malta’s fiscal structures are a serious matter, not a political football In a statement in May, the Malta Chamber expressed its disappointment in the manner in which the MEP electoral campaign was developing insofar as serious issues were not being given the deserved treatment, as they were being rendered political footballs for cheap points.

The Chamber was reacting to the way the debate about Malta’s fiscal structures was developing.

The press release noted that the threat of Malta’s current fiscal structures being put

at risk ought to be debated in a way that explains to the electorate how crucial it is that Malta maintains its current prerogative to design and determine its own taxation system and use it to attract investment in the light of its inherent limitations.

"The Chamber believes that Malta must be more positive and certainly united in facing the international pressures on its financial regulatory framework," the statement said.

The Chamber explained how Malta’s needs were different to those of countries and regions in the centre of Europe. "Rather than for the principal aim of collecting revenue, Malta uses its fiscal structure as a necessary and legitimate tool to stimulate growth and overcome the island’s permanent natural disadvantages such as smallness and peripherality," the Chamber stressed.

"The Malta Chamber cannot stress enough how sensitive and important this subject is. The Chamber calls on all MEP candidates as well as the electorate to treat this subject with the deserved caution."

10. Chamber welcomes landmark ruling on pre-1995 leases

07.

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In a statement in May, the Malta Chamber welcomed a recent landmark ruling declaring that the current legal regime which regulates pre-1995 leases, breached landlords’ fundamental rights and was effectively unconstitutional.

The Chamber noted how it had raised doubts on the current laws in the past, even suggesting that they were in breach of the fundamental human right to own and enjoy private property.

"In the current situation, property owners are often stuck leasing out their property for cheeky amounts which were determined decades ago, having also to foot the bill for maintenance costs out of pocket which often runs into the thousands. This situation is made more unacceptable when thanks to the current system, property leases are inherited by the subsequent generations, prolonging the unjust situation further," the Chamber said.

The Malta Chamber had been voicing its position in this sense for many years, most recently in January 2019, upon discussing the subject at length in the context of the white paper ‘Renting as a Housing Alternative’.

In conclusion, the Chamber reiterated its agreement with the ruling, and called on Government to speedily introduce all the necessary means to address this situation of injustice.

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Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) system.

The Commission also spoke of the importance for Malta to tackle aggressive tax planning. The Chamber reiterated its position in favour of Malta’s fundamental right to defend its taxation system, stating that while it is a strong believer in the European project, it believes a ‘one-size-fits-all’ principle cannot be applied. “Malta’s fiscal policy is not simply a way of collecting revenue but a tool to attract investment, stimulate growth and overcome its disadvantages of smallness and peripherality. The Malta Chamber hence calls on all political actors to pull the same rope on this issue in the interest of the country’s long-term economic well-being,” the Chamber said.

13. Ethical standards and quality of the construction industry need to be raised immediately

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11. Chamber welcomes the launch of the Considerate Contractors Scheme The Malta Chamber applauded the launch of the Considerate Construction Scheme aimed at raising professional standards in the building industry.

This scheme has been promoted with the authorities by the Chamber itself. In fact, the scheme falls squarely in line with the Chamber’s Economic Vision document calling for the delivery of a high-quality economy where mediocrity and sub-standards are replaced by a culture of excellence and where the current ‘good enough’ attitude is replaced by ‘nothing but the best’.

In this regard, the Chamber looks forward to the improvement of the image of the Maltese construction industry. It is considered neither ethical nor professional to proceed on the basis of what has been witnessed in this very active building economy in Malta over the last years.

Commenting shortly after his participation at the launch of the Scheme, the Chamber President, Perit David Xuereb said that, “the Chamber was delighted to advocate the introduction of a benchmark for Quality in Construction for the past two years.

It has since supported all stakeholders to prepare a move towards successful best-practices in the world and it is with pride and satisfaction that we witnessed and participated in the launch of the intention to set up such a scheme for Malta together with both Ministers and other stakeholders. The Chamber now looks forward to supporting the Scheme as long as it delivers on its prescribed JUNE/JULY 2019

principles in the interest of the credibility of the Maltese construction industry which must regain the respect it has lost with the public over the past years and months.”

12. 2019 Country Specific Recommendations echo Chamber’s opinions The Malta Chamber noted the 2019 Country Specific Recommendations for Malta, published by the European Commission on 5th June, as it observed how these echoed the Chamber’s opinions in several areas.

The Chamber noted that some of the recommendations made by the European Commission reflected proposals made by the Chamber to Government over the years. Not least, these include the importance of ensuring fiscal sustainability.

The Commission reported that Malta’s fiscal sustainability could be threatened in the long-term by the increase in age related spending in the pensions and healthcare systems. The Malta Chamber has, for the past years, advocated a review of both these crucial systems and made suggestions in this regard, especially in terms of incentivising further voluntary occupational pensions systems, reign in early retirement schemes and incentivise further active ageing.

Further to this, in the last years’ prebudget recommendations, the Malta Chamber advocated the need for an efficient, fair and sustainable healthcare system.

The needed reform has been unnecessarily delayed by political factors that have led to an inadequate and unaffordable system mired by wastage, particularly in the

In a statement in June, the Malta Chamber expressed its shock by the news of yet another building collapsing in a short period of time, this time in Mellieħa. Claiming it would cautiously await the results of the necessary investigations to learn about what caused this collapse, the Chamber said it was abundantly evident that this was symptomatic of a situation which was totally unacceptable in a civilised country and which must be addressed forthwith.

"The situation is now dire, and no more time can be wasted," the Chamber warned.

"The ethical standards and quality of our construction industry need to be raised immediately and brought in line with those in other developed countries. Our islands and our citizens certainly deserve no less."

"It is considered neither ethical nor professional to proceed on the basis of what has been witnessed in this very active building economy in Malta over the last years. Responsibilities must be shouldered by all, while the rights of innocent third parties need to be protected at all times," the Chamber noted.

The Chamber reiterated its call for a unified building authority that looks at the industry comprehensively and qualitatively.

"Given recent events, the Malta Chamber calls on authorities to act fast, and even consider going beyond the voluntary nature of the Considerate Construction Scheme in order to ensure proper high quality practices in the construction industry if we really mean business, otherwise the launch of the Scheme would have been nothing more than a farce," the Chamber concluded.

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NEWS Internationalisation

01. Malta Chamber hosts 80 Maltese and international businesses at AI and Blockchain brokerage event Malta Chamber teamed up with SiGMA to help companies move beyond the hype of blockchain and AI as it welcomed 80 international business participants with over 160 B2B meetings in May. The brokerage event was organised as part of Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) in Malta.

The participants, which came from 15 countries, shared their views and ambitions with like-minded ambitious businesses, in a speed-B2B event.

Prior to the event, an online platform was created to foster new international business partnerships and collaborations.

The initiative was aimed at nurturing international networking ties for ambitious Malta-based companies by identifying new business partners and sourcing new technologies. This falls squarely in line with the EEN mantra of Connect, Innovate, Grow.

“We have teamed up with SiGMA to create something concrete for business by way of this platform,” said Kevin J. Borg, Malta Chamber Director General.

“With the help of our overseas partners in Enterprise Europe Network, we brought together companies looking for technology partners to develop new services and products; others willing to partner with commercial entities to offer existing AI and blockchain applications; and organisations seeking to exchange knowledge and expertise by networking with public and private experts on the latest disruptive technologies. This initiative proved hugely successful and we intend to replicate again,” the DG concluded.

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The initiative dovetails with the Chamber’s work in the area of tech for which it also teamed up with Government to form Tech.MT – a public-private partnership launched last March to support locally based tech companies to grow.

These initiatives are part of an overall plan aimed at cementing the Chamber at the forefront of support for upcoming entrepreneurs and operators in the new economy while encouraging economic activity in future and disruptive technologies.

In this context, the event was testament to the fact that, following its 171-year-long leadership history, the Chamber maintains its forward-looking outlook at the forefront of innovative and disruptive technologies intended to develop new areas of enterprise support for the Maltese business community.

This year’s AI and Blockchain summit took place between 22nd and 24th May, and gathered thousands of attendees, exhibitors and investors from across the globe to engage in discussions about the world transformative potential and application of AI and blockchain technologies.

02. Malta Chamber Business Forum brings together Japanese and Maltese businesses Malta-based business representatives met senior officials from prominent Japanese companies who have a base in Italy, during a Business Forum organised by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Italy and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Italy.

Malta Chamber President Perit David Xuereb welcomed the delegation led by H.E. Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador of Japan to Malta. He highlighted the Chamber’s role as an influential interlocutor for fostering existing and new business relations between Malta and Japan. The President also remarked on the fact that both Japan and Malta are part of Enterprise Europe Network, which facilitates the internationalisation and partnering opportunities of Maltese and Japanese companies.

H.E. Ambassador Katakami lauded the significant improvement in commercial and economic ties since the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, and announced the imminent opening of the Maltese Embassy in Japan by the end of the year.

Japan is the third largest economy in the world and a well-established market for high quality products. Earlier this year, an EU Japan Economic Partnership agreement was signed, removing a wide array of tariffs and simplified customs procedures to export. The agreement is of interest to Malta given our geo-strategic location for Japanese products and services to reach both Europe and North Africa.

Malta Enterprise delivered a presentation on the Maltese economy and its opportunities for doing business.

The Forum was followed by a networking session which facilitated informal exchanges among the participants to foster commercial collaborations.

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A strategy for plastic reduction The Environment and Resources Authority recently launched its Rethink Plastic Single-Use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta 2020-2030.

Here, Jo Caruana chats to Environment and Resources Director Perit Michelle Piccinino to discover how this move will strive to protect our environment and human health from plastic pollution, while also helping to further Malta’s move towards a more circular economy.

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e are living in a world that could see more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050. That, in itself, is a terrifying statistic – but it gets worse, with plastic overtaking our landfills, seeping into our soil and even infiltrating our food chain.

As a result, much of the global community – and the business community too – is joining forces to assess how quickly changes can be made to stint these frightening developments. Locally, the launch of the Environment and Resources Authority’s Rethink Plastic Single-Use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta 2020-2030 is one of them.

“According to the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, it is estimated that Europe produces around 25 million tonnes of plastic waste every year,” explains Perit Michelle Piccinino, ERA’s Environment and Resources Director. “At an EU level, only 30 per cent of that waste is being recycled, indicating that a significant quantity of plastics leave the product life-cycle having only been used for a very short amount of time.”

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At a national level, Malta has similar problems when it comes to plastic waste.

Locally, plastic waste generation is increasing, whereas recycling rates have remained quite stable. This strategy is one of a number of initiatives launched to tackle this growing problem.

“At a European level, the Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, and other European policies, mainly target marine litter and its sources,” Perit Piccinino continues. “Our strategy for Malta aims to tackle the prevention of plastic waste generation by addressing the use of a number of single-use plastic items. This wider perspective will enable us to tackle all the sources of such waste, including the coastal and marine environment, and land environment. When you consider Malta’s geographical position and size, as well as its population density, this wider context will assist in achieving better results.”

Talking me through the strategy, the director highlights that it is planned to be

a driver of a cultural and behavioural shift within society when it comes to our attitude towards single-use plastic products.

“It proposes concrete measures in the short- and mid-term that will make the change to a more circular economy a reality,” she says. “However its success relies on the proper implementation of these measures and on the effective cooperation of all the relevant stakeholders.”

Drafted by ERA in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, the strategy has just undergone a period of public consultation that ended on 21st June 2019.

The feedback received will be reviewed and the strategy will be updated as necessary.

Perit Piccinino highlights that the process is focused on single-use plastics – products that are made wholly or partly from plastic, and which are only intended to be used once (and not refilled or reused).

“These are disposable, convenience products,” she says. “So the aim of the strategy is to provide measures that will JUNE/JULY 2019

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Pleasingly, though, there are already a number of local initiatives tackling the generation of plastic waste, so things are off to a good start. “For instance, there are several educational campaigns out there to raise awareness about the best way to manage plastic waste,” she says. “As well as extended producer responsibility services, a number of cleanups planned by various organisations, and the use of more sustainable alternatives within businesses and private entities – these types of initiatives will all help to create the necessary cultural shift in our society.”

So, with this plan in place, I ask what the public should expect from the

strategy in the short-term. “Well, it should be seen as an opportunity to set us on the path towards a plastic-free environment,” Perit Piccinino says. “And it will be updated, through periodical review, to ensure that any changes in society’s attitude and items containing single-use plastic are addressed.”

“But – as I explained before – without the participation of all stakeholders and enablers, this exercise will prove unsuccessful, so everyone must come on board. Similarly, it is important for Malta to embark on exploring new routes through continuous research and innovation, with the aim of promoting the use of sustainable alternatives and the important move towards a plastic-free environment.” cc

“The strategy proposes concrete measures in the short- and midterm that will make the change to a more circular economy a reality.”

Photo by Alan Carville

reduce the consumption of single-use plastic products, while also increasing the quality and quantities of single-use plastic waste collected for recycling. It acknowledges the measures that have been adopted at a European level, and takes into consideration the results of the European Union Impact Assessment on reducing the impact of single-use plastic products.”

Asked about how the general public will be impacted as a result of this strategy, Perit Piccinino explains that there will be a variation on the products available on the market. For instance, more sustainable alternatives will be more readily available, and it will be made easier and more attractive for people to recycle any plastic products consumed. “In this context, if the strategy is implemented successfully, the public will benefit from a cleaner country and cleaner seas,” she says.

And there will be an education campaign to match, with information about the harmful effects of plastic waste on the environment and human health, as well as information about the best possible ways to manage plastic waste, decrease the amount generated and increase the amount recycled.

To begin with, the strategy will target more than 20 single-use plastic products and fishing gear through various policy options, and it will be implemented between 2020 and 2030,” she explains.

“Processes will likely include consumption reduction measures (such as packagingfree areas), economic instruments (such as price differentiation), market restriction, separate collection measures (such as deposit-refund schemes), and waste management measures (such as awareness-raising campaigns). So it will be quite far-reaching.

“But its implementation will require a number of changes to the current regulatory regime, including the amendment of current legislation, the possibility of publishing new regulations, changes in various permitting or licensing regimes and an increase in enforcement procedures,” Perit Piccinino says.

“And the measures highlighted shouldn’t just be introduced as legislation but should be followed up by further discussions with the various stakeholders and accompanied by educational and awareness-raising campaigns in order to ensure that a positive change is brought about. We need to do this to ensure that a cultural shift takes place, so that the public is aware of the potential benefits that moving away from single-use plastics can have on their everyday life. Simply providing the strategy and a change in legislation does not ensure that such measures will be complied with, and it will not bring about the essential behavioural change that we need to yield positive results.”

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Tech Trends

03. Olympus OM-D E-M1X

Autonomous devices, noisecancelling headphones and the revolutionary Revolut metal card – Jillian Mallia has the low-down of the current top gadgets in the world of tech.

01. Autonomous devices

Siemens PLM Software Global

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Robots, drones and vehicles are just some of the innovations that fall under the category defined as AI, used to automate functions that were previously performed by people. The latest versions of these devices see them becoming more widespread, benefitting from advanced behaviour and enhanced interaction in a more natural way with their environment and users.

02. Revolut metal card Revolut has taken the world of banking by storm since it was launched, and now, with the latest metal card, clients can receive a first-class banking experience that includes allowing account holders to earn up to one per cent cashback, access to a dedicated concierge service and much more.

Revolut Blog

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Olympus’ latest device is a Micro FourThird ILC with an integrated vertical grip and two battery slots that is aimed at professional sports photographers. The most interesting feature is the AI tech similar to that found in high-end smartphones called Intelligent Detection AF, which can detect fast-moving subjects and lock in on the area for optimal tracking.

04. Google Pixel 3 Described as possessing the best smartphone camera on the market, Google Pixel 3 is considered to be one of the top Android phones around at the moment.

Google has employed a single rear-facing camera to capture as much data as it can, resulting in an image that looks good even with the worst of lighting.

05. Jabra Elite 85H noisecancelling headphones Noise-cancelling headphones have gotten better over the years, and the Jabra Elite 85H headphones are the latest in a long line of greats. The device uses AI to analyse sound in your environment and tweak the noise cancelling to best help you tune out the real world – and really focus in on listening to your favourite soundtrack or podcast while on the go.

06. Samsung Wall TV

ePHOTOzine

Samsung’s Micro LED-based Wall TV is impressing consumers everywhere, thanks to its smaller, modular panels that interlock to create a huge screen, giving the ultimate big screen home experience. cc

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9to5Google

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Samsung

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How technology is shaping HR as we know it HR is one of several components within an organisation that have seen quite a few changes in the advent of the digitised workplace.

From the storage of employee documents in a digital format, to more in-depth employee performance data, here are just a few ways that technology has revolutionised the world of HR. One of the key changes in the past few years has been within workforce planning. As management tools have made it easier for executives to closely manage the strengths and weaknesses of their employees, the process of choosing the right person for the right task has become more achievable.

Similarly, the engagement process has seen something of a transition. Given the great benefits surrounding engaging employees, it has become commonplace for organisations to implement universal automated tools to ensure that employees feel that they can easily communicate and be

heard, as well as to implement performance incentives to truly recognise the efforts being made by all members of the organisation.

The recent advancements within Employee Performance Analysis are also significant.

Through HR analytics, the role of human resources is edging closer and closer to becoming a data-driven function. Employee analytics tools now give HR executives a plethora of options, from the use of data to predict employee retention, to the close monitoring of employee eligibility for performance-based incentives.

In order to make the most of these technological advancements, many organisations are now looking towards Platforms as a Service (PaaS) in order to unify their HR tools. Brightspark is one such unified HR platform. Financed by Exigy, Brightspark aims to bring together the key components of the HR experience, for each member of your organisation. cc

The Leicester MBA is a global programme, with global study centres and a diverse, international cohort with residential workshops. FHRD has been representing the University of Leicester in Malta since the year 2000, and todays boasts hundreds of Maltese MBA alumni. The Leicester MBA is recognised as a full Masters, at Level 7 by the NCFHE and is eligible for Get Qualified funding. cc

For more information on the Leicester MBA, get in touch on T: 2131 3550; E: dl@fhrd.org; https://le.ac.uk/courses/ the-leicester-mba-dl/2019

To learn more about what Brightspark can do for your workplace, visit us at www.mybrightspark.com

The Leicester MBA Whether one is looking to move from a technical position into management or to build the skills and credentials required to progress towards senior leadership, career development is a major factor when one decides to embark on an MBA programme. As one of the world’s first AMBA-accredited distance learning MBAs, Leicester is always advancing business learning trends.

The Leicester MBA is the culmination of over 25 years of distance learning experience.

It provides individuals with the flexibility of fitting their studies around their professional and personal commitments. The university balances the latest online technologies with traditional face to face techniques to provide its students with an approach to study which is flexible enough to be studied anywhere but sufficiently structured and interactive to allow students to play their part in the group and develop the necessary skills to become a leader. For the University of Leicester, learning is a social endeavour and distance learning should not be a distant educational experience.

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Why the distribution industry is better off with Acumatica Cloud ERP As a sole collection point for all of an organisation’s data from multiple sources, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution acts as a ‘single source of truth’ – eliminating data duplication, enhancing data integrity and enabling users to drive growth, manage costs and be more productive.

As we know, the distribution industry is a complicated one, and the technology chosen to run systems and processes can make or break a company’s bottom line. If you can’t deliver your orders on time and at the best price, another distributor certainly will be more than happy to do so.

Acumatica Cloud ERP can modernise

Electronic payments made simple Electronic payments simplify running a business, whatever its nature, be it a traditional retail outlet or an online outfit. Bank of Valletta p.l.c offers businesses a broad spectrum of electronic banking services, designed to meet the unique needs of both small and large businesses.

Generally, a business’ first point of contact with the bank relates to a request to migrate wages from a manual to an automated system.

Through its Internet Banking platform, the BOV 24X7 Services suite, the bank offers an automated file uploading system that makes this task as simple as the click of a button.

The file format is also customised according to the business type. Security is a priority for the bank, particularly in this field. Through the use of the bank’s Securekey, the company may appoint different users to input data and to authorise, thereby adopting the ‘four-eye’ approach.

As a business grows, its financial requirements grow exponentially. Credit transfers constitute another area where BOV can assist corporates in doing away with manual intervention. Moreover, this service 78

and scale many processes to meet customers’ demands. It helps manage the unpredictability of the distribution market by empowering distributors to streamline processes from quote to cash, optimise the supply side of distribution operations, and make better financial decisions.

Quote to cash Distributors who want to serve their customers from ‘quote to cash’ (and every step in between) are turning to Cloud ERP in growing numbers. Excellent customer service processes require information such as customer order history, shipping schedules, product return protocols, archives for recall processing, etc. Acumatica Cloud ERP makes this possible without needing to upgrade existing IT systems.

Optimised supply chain In today’s marketplace, it’s becoming more and more necessary to connect the supply chain from beginning to end. Inaccurate inventory information hurts efficiency – therefore an exact understanding of your stores, stock and orders throughout the supply chain is needed for effective decision-making. True supply chain automation with Acumatica Cloud ERP enables you to keep a detailed eye on the entire supply chain – as well as taking care of ordering and inventory tracking.

can be customised to suit the needs of a wide cross-section of clients, starting from those needing to process an isolated payment to those requiring regular batch payments.

Time is definitely a precious commodity nowadays. At Bank of Valletta, we make it our prerogative to ensure our solutions are simple and hassle-free. In fact, BOV corporate clients may use the same file to upload payments using the BOV24X7 platform, irrespective of the number of different currencies involved. Furthermore, they get the option to receive Swift statements on a daily basis via secure email, enabling automated reconciliation of their accounts.

Corporate clients are also after direct debits, primarily in relation to subscriptions, such as utility payments and settlement of insurance premia. With the introduction of SEPA, customers may choose the bank through which to process any type of SEPA payments within any jurisdiction across the EU. For us at Bank of Valletta, the client, whether personal or corporate, is at the heart of everything we do. This is what drives our innovation and service options.

Going forward we shall persist in harnessing technology to offer our clients innovative and user-friendly services that will continue to make banking as easy and painless as possible. cc

Make better financial decisions Powerful BI and analytics tools collect eyewatering amounts of raw data that can be used to inform a business’s decisions and direction, but the problem lies in how all this data is transformed into something of value – data is only as useful as the information it delivers, otherwise it’s just noise.

Acumatica Cloud ERP monitors key metrics for each functional business unit.

Users can drill down into summary and detailed information, including access to supplemental information. Executive management has immediate access to performance measurement dashboards for fast, accurate decision-making. cc Start making the shift to Acumatica Cloud ERP today. For more information get in touch on T: 2149 0700; E: info@computimesoftware.com; www.computimesoftware.com/acumatica-erp

Clients wishing to discuss electronic payment solutions offered by Bank of Valletta are invited to contact the bank on 2275 1568 or 2275 1154, or to send an email to paymentsbusiness@bov.com Terms and conditions are available from www.bov.com.

Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Zakkarija, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1130. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and is 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).

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Looking beyond Europe’s shores As European markets are becoming oversaturated for certain sectors, it is important to also look beyond Malta’s immediate neighbours for growth opportunities. With this in mind, Helena Grech speaks with PKF Malta’s Senior Partner and Head of Audit Department George Mangion about why Vietnam is a good place to start when promoting Malta as a blockchain island.

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orging lucrative and sensible business opportunities in Europe is no easy feat due to the highly developed and industrialised nations that form part of it.

And in view of what Malta has to offer in terms of business and export opportunities, penetrating European markets is notoriously difficult.

Vietnam is growing to be one of the emerging Asian tigers – it currently enjoys a 7 per cent annual growth in GDP and is set to expand its volume of international trade.

Why the spotlight on Vietnam? PKF Malta’s Head of Audit Department and Senior Partner George Mangion elaborates on how Malta’s positioning as a blockchain island opens up the doors to consulting opportunities outside of Europe.

Last year, the Maltese Parliament passed three comprehensive laws: the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) Act, the Innovative Technology Arrangements

and Services Act (ITASA) and the Virtual Financial Asset (VFA) Act. The MDIA acts as a communicator between key national bodies such as the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), other relevant Government regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and operators. It also regulates new and emerging technologies. The ITASA is geared towards regulating technology service providers, while the VFA Act regulates Virtual Financial Assets.

So far, the Vietnamese government has not yet passed laws to regulate and thus legitimise blockchain technology and virtual assets, however Mr Mangion contends that “Malta can somewhat help Vietnam, given that it has recently consolidated its legal framework on this industry.”

He adds that Malta “is now in a position to receive applications and license VFA agents and IT services providers while facilitating

Photos by Alan Carville

“The promotion of [Malta’s blockchain] expertise in Vietnam can pave the way for future cross-border consultancy projects.”

the licensing of white papers issued by new ICOs.” In a nutshell, “the promotion of this expertise in Vietnam can pave the way for future cross-border consultancy projects.”

Going back to how PKF Malta was introduced to the region, Mr Mangion explains that as a service provider, it has always been looking to forge and develop international niches.

Through PKF China offices, Mr Mangion’s team was encouraged to visit Vietnam, in view of its reputation as an emerging economic heavyweight due in part to its relatively young and large population of around 100 million. Recognising the country’s potential, the team started to attend conferences and establish business contacts 80

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“Blockchain tech experts believe the use of technology in Vietnam could help industry users save 30-50 per cent of their expenses, as those apps would help them improve the quality of production and transparency in finance and management.”

Dr Marylin Formosa - Director - Head of Legal, Donna Greaves Bonello - Audit Partner, George Mangion - Senior Partner

Pierre Mangion - eBusiness Partner, George Mangion - Senior Partner

some three years ago.

In May of this year, Mr Mangion and his colleagues visited the city of Hanoi and participated in a conference where they delivered a presentation on Malta’s newly enacted blockchain laws and regulations, which was met with great interest.

Of note is that Vietnam has so far failed to structure a legal framework for the innovative blockchain and virtual assets market, preventing the country from maximising the full potential of these emerging technologies.

Reportedly, the government of Vietnam has expressed interest in exploring different ways of enacting some form of legislation in this regard.

“Vietnamese people are not fully aware of JUNE/JULY 2019

the terms blockchain and cryptocurrency, and often mistake them. Blockchain tech experts believe the use of technology in Vietnam could help industry users save 30-50 per cent of their expenses, as those apps would help them improve the quality of production and transparency in finance and management,” Mr Mangion explains.

“As can be expected, the tech community in Vietnam is booming due to a large talent pool of skilled developers. So far, one must admit that official recognition is slow since the country’s central bank has clearly stated that it does not recognise crypto assets as legal tender. Still, one cannot but admire the progress made by members of the Vietnam Blockchain Club which aims to connect Vietnam business leaders, educators, policy makers, regulators, tech entrepreneurs, for and not for profit organisations to get acquainted with the new technology.”

Turning to how Malta fits into this equation, Mr Mangion shares that last year, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat led a trade mission to Vietnam to encourage business opportunities between the two countries in a number of sectors including crypto and blockchain applications.

The Vietnamese economy is the 45th largest in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is in fact the 35th largest in the world when measured by purchasing power parity.

“The swift transformation of the Vietnamese economy, which over the last 25 years has reduced unemployment to single digits, is truly remarkable,” Mr Mangion expands.

He enthusiastically discusses his trip to a Vietnam Blockchain Start-Up event in

Hanoi, adding that Vietnam is slowly waking up to the opportunities being provided by blockchain.

One area where blockchain could certainly make waves in Vietnam is through the use of e-wallets. Relatively high proportions of the population do not have access to bank accounts, therefore the introduction of e-wallets into the market could provide access to finance to millions of Vietnamese, be they farmers, small business owners or students.

Mr Mangion believes that Malta could be a stepping stone for Vietnam. He asserts that one of Vietnam’s best assets is the extent to which it is industrialised, having large manufacturing, logistics and food processing industries.

He contends that with the right consultation, the breakthroughs of blockchain technology can help these industries become more efficient, run with lower operational costs and overall thrive.

Mr Mangion acknowledges that the banking sector has been slow on the uptake of cryptocurrency in particular, however he argues that the same could be said to risk-averse Maltese banks and the iGaming companies that came to Malta some 10 years ago. A combination of adapting and looking beyond Maltese shores for banking solutions has allowed the sector to thrive and contribute to the local economy thanks in large part to the amount of skilled jobs it has created.

While other nations such as the USA and Japan have already set their eyes on Vietnam, Mr Mangion reinforces the idea that Malta must look beyond Europe for opportunities, especially in areas where geographical distance does not limit opportunities to a large extent. cc 81

CC CASE STUDY

A one-stop shop delivering the goods Since it opened its doors more than 60 years ago, MAL Services Ltd has provided shipping, logistics and transport services to clients in myriad industries, looking to shift cargo across the globe. Here, Managing Director Marco Spiteri speaks to Rebecca Anastasi about the company’s achievements, including its recent acquisition of ISO9001 certification.

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or many businesses, building positive relationships and applying clientcentric processes often depends on getting a product to the consumer as fast and efficiently as possible, wherever they may be. And scaling such operations – while continuing to ensure timely delivery, without the stress of uncertainty – can prove challenging, unless there is full control over this last step in the production chain.

“Reliability is one of the most essential qualities to possess,” acknowledges Marco Spiteri, Managing Director of supply chain and logistics firm MAL Services Ltd. “Adapting to clients, and to the business environment, is a day-to-day responsibility, and when it comes to freight, transport and shipping, efficiency needs to be very high on the agenda in order to cater for every circumstance.”

Over the years, the company has had to readjust and tailor-make its offering as

contingencies – and economic dependencies – changed. Opening its doors in the late 1940s, when Malta was still a British colony, MAL Services Ltd first started handling freight at the local airport through a relationship with the British state-owned airline British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which later became British Airways and operated flights to and from the United Kingdom. However, by the 1970s, and with the introduction of Air Malta, the company was pressed to diversify its portfolio of services and decided to offer freight forwarding assistance, later expanding into organised warehousing, trailer hauling, customs clearance and transportation.

“Today, the company is a one-stop shop for whoever wants to bring cargo over to Malta or send it from the island,” Mr Spiteri says. “We have a large network of international companies – such as logistics

“ISO9001 certification is evidence that everything is up to scratch.

It’s a very important step and it will definitely open up new markets.”

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firms DB Schenker, Panalpina and UPSSCS with whom we work, and with whom we liaise, so our services cover the entire globe.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of the freight comes from Europe – due to Malta’s membership of the single market – but the firm has expanded into far-off jurisdictions such as Singapore, as well as countries in central Africa.

“We have business to and from everywhere, and we also operate very much as a consultancy,” Mr Spiteri explains, going on to outline the way in which his team of seasoned employees – with long decades of logistics experience between them – are able to understand the requirements of each request, catering their solutions based on the desired speed and cost. “Obviously, we have to look at the urgency of a particular shipment, since how we transport it depends on how long the consignee is willing to wait. Some clients think we are only an airfreight company – and airfreight can be expensive, particularly if the item does not need to travel fast – so we always suggest other methods, such as groupage, trailer haulage or trucking, which may be cheaper.”

The requirements, thus, change depending on the clients, the Managing Director explains, and these customers may range from “individuals and one-time importers – such as people who want to bring over their personal effects – to larger firms.” MAL Services Ltd even handles the extensive, and regular, logistics requirements of companies such as STMicroelectronics, the multinational electronics and semiconductor manufacturer, and De La Rue, currency and security printer.

“We’ve worked with STMicroelectronics from as soon as they set foot in Malta 40 years ago, and we’ve been working with De La Rue for the past five or six years. In both businesses, we have implanted teams of people to handle their freight requirements from their offices and sites, and this is because we are moving delicate products urgently,” he explains.

In order to guarantee dependability, the firm ensures each client is allocated a staff member who remains their point of contact throughout the entire operation, Mr Spiteri continues. “We have various departments: import and export; customs clearance; warehousing and so on. But we don’t juggle people from one department to another, so once a client begins liaising with a member of our team, they will see the job from start to finish. It’s also a small office, and we centralise all information, so we’re able to work on the JUNE/JULY 2019

CC CASE STUDY

“We calculate that approximately 65 per cent of all our importation comes from the UK and now, as it stands, all cargo is out of the terminal very quickly, without the need for any documentation whatsoever.

But with Brexit, this will change.”

Photos by Alan Carville

deliverables quickly.”

The Managing Director credits his team for handling “anything, going anywhere”, saying that every member is an asset to the company. “The company started with just three or four employees, but today we are 25, including staff stationed at other locations, though excluding any subcontractors we hire for services we don’t offer in-house.” Mr Spiteri himself has been with the firm for a staggering 33 years, starting out as a shipping clerk, and later, working his way up the ladder to supervisor, manager, general manager and finally, to today’s position of responsibility.

And he is still very much hands-on, even delivering parcels himself during busy periods.

And it is this attitude – from all involved – which has seen the logistics firm receive the Lufthansa Award for Excellence regularly for the past 20 years, as well as The Best Cargo Agent for Emirates Sky Cargo in Malta.

They are also the General Sales Agent for Cargolux Airlines International and for Swiss World Cargo, and they’ve been IATA Certified for decades. “I’m proud of our progress.

Achievement is not a one-time thing, it’s not an instant, it needs to be continuous,” Mr Spiteri says.

Indeed, one of the firm’s recent major achievements has been the acquisition of ISO9001 certification, an international standard for a quality management system.

This guarantees a high level in the operational requirements of the firm and monitors procedures such as the training of employees, the financial health of the enterprise, as well JUNE/JULY 2019

as its service providers. “It changes things,” the Managing Director explains. “When potential partners see that the company is accredited, they will know the level at which we’re conducting business and they will feel more comfortable. ISO9001 certification is evidence that everything is up to scratch. It’s a very important step and it will definitely open up new markets.”

But challenges persist, Mr Spiteri states, and the firm is always striving to counter the situations presented. Britain’s exit from the European Union is an upcoming hurdle which will definitely affect Malta, according to the Managing Director. “We calculate that approximately 65 per cent of all our importation comes from the UK and now, as it stands, all cargo is out of the terminal very quickly, without the need for any documentation whatsoever. But with Brexit this will change, since everything will need to have customs documents and that will delay clearance. This is going to be a big issue especially in our courier division,” he says.

Mr Spiteri also notes that the issue may be compounded due to the increasing necessity to add human resources. “It’s going to be a headache since there will be a need for more resources and more staff to clear goods on arrival. And this will be problematic since it is proving to be difficult to find people to work, even now.” Indeed, recruitment, he asserts, has been a persistent challenge due to the proliferation of iGaming firms which can offer salaries far from the median.

Moreover, the lack of formalised education

in the field means that new staff need to be constantly trained, which makes the pool even smaller. “The whole industry would like to see more formalised training. In fact, we recently held a meeting with Customs, and asked if they could organise additional courses in clearance. Most of the time we learn from each other, and what I’ve learnt, I pass on to my colleagues. But there needs to be instruction across the board: even a driver needs to be trained and specialised,” he explains.

And this will be one of the complications which might arise if the proposed plans for the logistics hub go through. “It’s everybody’s dream to have a logistics hub in Malta, especially those who have been in the industry for decades like me. The island is strategically located – just a stepping-stone to Africa and to Europe – so this will create immense business and volumes for everyone here. But the amount of people and the amount of space required will be challenges.

Government will need to work with all the industry players to counter these, since the investment will be huge,” he explains.

But whether the dream of a logistics hub is realised or not, what is in store for MAL Services Ltd? “The priorities now are to ensure our operations and systems continue to work at the highest level possible; to ensure our existing clients are catered for; and strive to continue increasing our customer base. But creating an international transit hub in Malta still remains a definite dream, for all of us in the sector,” Mr Spiteri concludes. cc 83

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Brexit uncertainty: what would a no-deal scenario look like for Malta?

Uncertainty has characterised the Brexit process from the start. In addition to the British Parliament having been stuck in gridlock, the departure of Prime Minister Theresa May has fuelled further uncertainty.

As a no-deal Brexit looks more likely, Helena Grech speaks with professionals on the ground to see what this could mean for Malta.

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n 23rd June 2016 the world was stunned to learn that the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union by a majority of 52 per cent. Three years down the line, two Prime Ministers and countless Cabinet reshuffles later, the UK is nowhere closer to making an orderly Brexit.

The deadline has been extended to 31st October 2019, while the Conservative Party grapples to elect a new leader who will in turn lead the country and negotiations on the way forward. Taking a look at what this could mean for Malta, uncertainty is the key word used by MEPs, advisors and businesspeople alike.

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In 2016, Maltese exports to the UK amounted to €106 million, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). In just two years, this figure dropped to €61 million for 2018. And, looking ahead, local companies trading with the UK which have never dealt with customs procedures are suddenly finding themselves preparing for the worst during these unstable times.

While companies such as Bet365 have declared their intention to relocate to Malta and further opportunities could arise in terms of foreign direct investment, tourism towards the island by British nationals could drop, while imports and exports could be made more complicated and therefore less attractive.

Head of the Labour Party delegation in the European Parliament and Vice President of the Socialist and Democrat Group in the EP, Miriam Dalli, acknowledges that at an EU level, the scenario which is most being prepared for is a no-deal Brexit. “At an EU level, we adopted around 20 legislative instruments to enter into force in case this happens, and many member states have done the same, especially in the area of citizens’ rights.”

Dr Dalli does not believe that a no-deal scenario will be necessarily catastrophic, conceding that it will certainly be challenging.

“It will be another step in the process of JUNE/JULY 2019

CC FOCUS negotiations with the UK to determine the type of relationship it will have with the EU. In other words, whilst an orderly withdrawal would ensure that we would have a cushion in the form of transitional arrangements in favour of a smoother transition to the future relationship, a no-deal means that we would first need to get assurances on the financial settlements, citizens’ rights and the Irish issue before we can start negotiating how to cooperate further with the UK,” she contends.

The area of greatest concern for Dr Dalli is related to citizens’ rights, mainly healthcare rights, pharmaceutical products, mobility and social security.

“These are the areas that we will continue working on both at the European Parliament and national levels,” she adds.

She stresses that her preferred outcome would be for the UK to remain in the EU, and that the least preferred option is the no-deal scenario.

Dr Dalli outlines the Maltese Government’s preparations for a latter scenario, such as introducing legislation that complements the EU efforts to protect the rights of UK citizens residing in Malta vis-à-vis healthcare, social security and education.

She highlights the possible repercussions for a no-deal Brexit, primarily “in areas of EU competence where we [Malta] cannot negotiate bilaterally.”

Adding to this, she says “whilst we [Malta] are keen to keep ties as close as possible, we know that it will not be possible to keep trading in the way we do today without a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and the EU, and that will not even be as beneficial as the single market.”

Onto the challenges posed by a no-deal scenario, Dr Dalli acknowledges that it could bring investment to Malta, however the implications on freedom of movement to and from the UK are a cause for concern.

Asked about what Malta could be doing to ensure that the fallout from a no-deal Brexit is mitigated, she points towards legislation enacted by Government ensuring the rights and protection of UK citizens residing in Malta. She highlights measures targeting SMEs and business with value chains exposed to the UK. “There were courses provided by Customs and funding schemes provided

by Malta Enterprise to assess the impact.

Furthermore, stakeholders were constantly consulted to identify potential concerns,” she concludes.

Head of the Nationalist Party’s delegation in the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, strikes a decidedly more concerned tone. She argues that without businesses being able to plan effectively, a raft of measures is taken by companies trading with the UK to cover all possible scenarios.

She stresses that “Brexit has been very damaging to the European project as well as for the image of the UK around the globe. I do not think anyone expected it to be plain sailing but the way it has developed politically, socially and economically since the referendum has been very painful for everyone concerned.”

Expressing solidarity with the embattled UK Prime Minister, she asserts: “say what you like about Theresa May, but no one doubted her integrity and her determination to get a deal. My concern now is that the appetite for a catastrophic no-deal scenario could increase.”

“At an EU level, we adopted around 20 legislative instruments to enter into force in case [a no-deal Brexit] happens, and many member states have done the same, especially in the area of citizens’ rights.”

– Miriam Dalli, MEP JUNE/JULY 2019

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“Our businesses cannot plan effectively… it is the uncertainty of it all that is the worst.”

– Roberta Metsola, MEP Dr Metsola adds that she believes people have now realised that “leaving the EU is not as easy as some unscrupulous politicians had initially made it out to be.” She is proud that the EU has insisted on the fact that the freedoms offered by EU membership cannot be decoupled from each other. “EU membership never was and never can be an à la carte option.” Dr Metsola concludes by saying that she is “confident that the historic and cultural ties between Malta and the UK will remain as strong as possible.”

CEO of the Malta Business Bureau, Joe Tanti, outlines the uncertainty in relation to how a new British PM will manage to “break the deadlock in the UK Parliament,” as well as the uncertainty on the kind of general approach that will be taken in view of the current Brexit deadline.”

Turning to more practical consequences for Malta, Dr Metsola adds, “the implications for Malta and Gozo remain serious. Our businesses cannot plan effectively, meaning industry is forced to take measures such as to ensure stocks do not run low and to seek alternative routes of supply… it is the uncertainty of it all that is the worst.”

She maintains that only having a deal in place would provide the “parameters with certainty on how business can be conducted and only with a deal can people be sure of their rights. A no-deal Brexit would spell economic and social hardships, and I hope that this option remains firmly off the table.”

Turning to the prospect of more foreign direct investment, Dr Dalli says this is a positive aspect for both Malta and Gozo, adding that she hopes the country will use every opportunity to continue to attract investment.

“Brexit always meant that there would be companies that leave the UK to remain rooted in the EU, and we have to be ready to position ourselves to offer the right conditions to allow those companies to move here,” she says.

“One should not underestimate the bigger picture and the negative repercussions of the UK leaving the EU.” – Joe Tanti, CEO, MBB JUNE/JULY 2019

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CC FOCUS Focusing on the issues local businesses are likely to face in the event of a no-deal scenario, he says “companies importing from and exporting to the UK would be required to face tariffs overnight and must deal with customs procedures.” He highlights that, for companies that only trade with countries within the EU single market, “this would actually be the first time they will be required to do so, and it will be particularly administratively burdensome for SMEs.” Turning to other examples of what a no-deal means for Malta and other member states, he explains that “products certified in the UK will no longer be recognised by EU standards, and therefore Maltese companies using UK components in their production may need to find alternative sources.”

Such examples help to underscore the benefits achieved from an orderly Brexit, that would allow for a transition process, and “the status quo is preserved until the end of 2020 while the EU and the UK negotiate a future economic relationship,” he adds.

Echoing the sentiments of Dr Dalli and Dr Metsola, Mr Tanti evokes the age-old adage: “every misfortune is a blessing.” In this case

he says it “manifests itself in the fact that some UK companies will seek to establish operations in an EU member state. Malta does well in trying to attract well-reputed companies that bring added value to the economy and create well-paid jobs.”

He cautions, however, that “one should not underestimate the bigger picture and the negative repercussions of the UK leaving the EU. As a small open economy, Malta thrives in stable political and economic environments. Negative international developments would ultimately impact the Maltese economy. Economic forecasts for the coming years indicate slower growth internationally due to international tensions.

A no-deal Brexit will add more fuel to the fire.”

On the future of negotiations with the UK, Mr Tanti stresses that the EU’s position on the matter is clear. He points towards the UK’s need to adopt the current withdrawal agreement if it wants to leave the EU in an orderly manner, by the 31st October deadline.

He explains that “this leaves a new UK Prime Minister with a few options; namely to find an internal compromise to approve

“Uncertainty creates fear and that would create a contraction in, for example, tourism, where we [Malta] still depend quite a lot on the UK market.” – Stefano Mallia, Brexit Group Chairman, European Economic and Social Committee

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the deal, which Ms May was unable to achieve; call a general election hoping to tip the balance in favour of the new Prime Minister’s views; call a referendum for the British public to give a new unequivocal mandate; or press ahead with a no-deal Brexit. However, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK government would still return to the EU to start discussing a future economic relationship, for which the EU may consider re-tabling the same agreement as a basis to start a new negotiation. That would be an interesting déjà-vu.”

Asked to outline what action the local Government should take to prepare the public and businesses alike for Brexit, Mr Tanti is clear that information is key.

He concedes “it is impossible to avoid disruption, but at least it could be partly mitigated if businesses and citizens are informed about the repercussions of a nodeal Brexit.”

Mr Tanti acknowledges the Government’s efforts in doing this, however he adds that it is never enough and that more can always be done.

Stefano Mallia, one of Malta’s five members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Chairman of the EESC’s Brexit Group, believes that a no-deal Brexit will have “huge economic consequences for the EU and even more so for the UK”. He commends Ms May for fighting “tooth and nail” to avoid a no-deal scenario but concedes that the option is firmly back on the table.

He too stresses that the worst consequence of a no-deal Brexit will be “the huge uncertainty it creates”. He adds that “uncertainty creates fear and that would create a contraction in, for example, tourism, where we [Malta] still depend quite a lot on the UK market. It would also impact the wider European economy with, for example, the car industry in Germany being hit. That too could have repercussions on the Maltese economy.”

Mr Mallia says that as the prospect of a no-deal scenario continues to grow, “the more likely it is that companies will seek alternative arrangements. Reportedly there has already been considerable movement from the UK to other EU destinations. This is likely to become more pronounced with the chances of a no-deal Brexit increasing.”

Turning to negotiations with the UK following Ms May’s departure, Mr Mallia says “if the new PM is elected on a platform that a no-deal Brexit is not an option or indeed that there should be a referendum on any deal negotiated, then one can expect a possible shift in positions even if the EU continues to be adamant that there will be no further negotiations. On the other hand, if [former UK Foreign Minister] Boris Johnson is elected as PM, then one can expect things to go south very fast and a nodeal Brexit will take place by October.” cc JUNE/JULY 2019

CC INTERVIEW

Unleashing your inner leader American author and life coach Steve Shallenberger has inspired countless people through his motivational talks and book ‘Becoming Your Best – the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders’. Now, following his recent visit to Malta, he talks Jo Caruana through his world-renowned leadership programme to discover how it could help you too.

I

see Steve Shallenberger before I hear him. We are having technical problems as we try to connect over Skype, but already he is beaming, his infectious smile making a phenomenal first impression. “Hey Jo! How lovely to see you there!” he booms. Finally! We’re connected by voice too – and instantly I can understand why Steve is considered one of the top leadership trainers anywhere in the world; his is the sort of

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approach that makes you listen up and take note instantaneously. But let’s start at the beginning. Before we get into the details of his current projects, I ask Steve to talk me through his past – a life that began in a small San Francisco home shared with five siblings. “My mother was an angel,” he says, as his face lights up again. “She raised us brilliantly and instilled such a strong work ethic in us.”

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CC INTERVIEW Steve’s first job was in an Italian restaurant when he was just 15, followed by a stint as a garbage collector. “Then, at 16, I met the wonderful David Conger – a very successful real estate broker who changed my life.

He helped me start my first company that same year – a small cleaning entity with five employees. It was fascinating, but it didn’t stop me wanting to go to college, which I did, to study accounting.”

But even his university years didn’t supress Steve’s entrepreneurial spirit. In the summer he would sell books door to door, a job that helped him pay his college fees in advance. Straight after his studies, he bought a marketing company and opened a publishing company, and had over 700 employees within just a couple of years.

“It was then that I recall first thinking about leadership,” he says. “My employees would ask for advice about how they could be their best and I was passionate about helping them. I started to research what made a good leader, and it has turned into the mission of a lifetime; a mission that certainly took my hair from brown to white, among other things!”

As part of his mission to learn what sets very high performers apart from the rest of people, Steve interviewed over 150 CEOs from across the globe and studied the lives of historical figures that have changed the world for good. What he learnt above all else is that no one is perfect, but that all of them did do 12 things in common that propelled their path towards excellence. Those 12 things became the basis for the 12 leadership principles in his book.

“Since then, people from across the globe have learnt to apply these principles and they have all got the same consistent, predictable, outstanding results,” Steve says.

In fact, countless organisations have testified that they have finally found something they can use to create sustainable success. And it’s easy to understand too, because ‘Becoming Your Best’ provides solutions to help you – as a leader – engage your team, to create alignment, and to flawlessly execute at the highest level.

“The 12 principles are universal and timeless,” Steve continues. “They apply anywhere, to women and men, and across any ethnicity. When people can understand and apply them, they get to a better place – it is as predictable as the law of gravity, and they work 100 per cent of the time.

“After all, when business leaders can bring out the best in their people and make them reach their fullest potential, that is when excellence begins. Highly successful leaders always bring out the best in others, whether they are a mum, dad, warehouseman or a CEO.” In a nutshell, Steve explains that the 12 principles are as follows: being true to character, leading with vision, managing 92

with a plan, prioritising your time, living the ‘golden rule’ in business and life, building and maintaining trust, being an effective communicator, innovating through imagination, being accountable, applying the power of knowledge, living in peace and balance, and, finally, never giving up. “If you want more engaged employees, a highperforming team, and leaders who know how to lead, then ‘Becoming Your Best’ can help you get there!” Steve smiles.

And those who have committed to the principles certainly agree, as Steve and his team have thousands of testimonials from individuals and organisations that have transformed their practices and enjoyed excellent success rates as a result.

“When people apply the 12 principles, they get to a better place – it is as predictable as the law of gravity.”

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CC INTERVIEW

“This is not a flavour of the month type programme; it’s not a one-time motivational experience,” Steve continues.

“It has serious ‘stickability’. We live in a time that is more demanding than any other time in history because things are evolving so quickly, so whatever worked yesterday may be insufficient today and totally obsolete tomorrow. Good leaders need to be able to stay ahead of that kind of disruption.

“Plus, in Malta – and in an environment of zero unemployment – employees want to get to a place where they can realise their full potential. It isn’t just about money but fulfilment, and the leadership around them JUNE/JULY 2019

will make a difference and will make you stand out. The best leaders treat people like they want to be treated, and they see their people as the best value they have.”

And this is exactly where Steve’s book proves indispensable in helping leaders to really make the most of their teams and stand out among employers. “Among the benefits of our programme, our leaders have been able to create a world-class learning plan for their organisations, to increase sales and develop a highlyprofitable business model, and to improve employee engagement and increase productivity – among others.”

“For me, it is absolutely wonderful to

watch the companies and people we engage with through ‘Becoming Your Best’ transform and literally become their best, and for them the results are phenomenal too. So, as I look back on my career and my humble start, nothing could be better than to know I have added value and meaning to so many lives,” Steve adds with a smile. cc Steve Shallenberger will be leading a work shop in collaboration with the Malta Chamber, helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential on 17th October. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn how to take your business to the next level. Bookings now open on cheryl.spiteri@maltachamber.org.mt.

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STYLE

Office Trends

REVIEW

04. Biophilic design Living green walls and the presence of plants and trees in the workplace are now a tried and tested trend, but biophilic design is becoming a mainstay in office design rather than a trend, with more work spaces featuring organic shapes, thermal comfort, high-quality ventilation and visual connections with nature.

While modern work spaces are becoming ever more sophisticated, they’re also becoming more in touch with their surroundings. From the rise of biophilic design to advancements in assistive technology, Martina Said highlights some of the office trends to watch.

05. Pet love

01. Lighting Good lighting in the workplace sounds like an obvious design requirement rather than a trend, but getting it right isn’t that easy.

Striking the right balance between natural and artificial light requires expertise, and is gaining more and more attention, making it an essential component of modern offices for employee productivity and well-being.

02. Inclusion & Accessibility Far from being a trend, inclusion and accessibility in the workplace are occupying a more prominent place in office design than ever before, and with advancements in assistive technology, inclusion in the workplace is becoming easier to embrace through colour-coded keyboards, refreshable Braille displays and sign language apps.

In line with embracing nature, this is a trend we can definitely come on board with. Known to reduce stress levels and give people a sense of joy, employers are increasingly allowing (well-behaved) pets to accompany their owners to work, and we’re all for it.

01.

www.aiga.org

06. Privacy-friendly stations Despite the rise and rise of open work spaces in recent years, there’s still a want and need for privacy at the office.

Whether to take an important work call that requires focus or to simply get away from the rush and work without distraction, it’s proving to be a much sought-after design requirement in 2019. cc

02.

Financial Times

03. Nostalgia This year, modern offices housed within old buildings are gaining traction. Malta has no shortage of these, and forward-looking business owners would do well to jump on the bandwagon and restore and finish old buildings as suitable modern work spaces, preserving local heritage in the process.

Home World Design

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www.greenroofs.com

04.

www.thenextweb.com

05.

www.bayut.com

03.

06.

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CC DESIGN TRENDS

The best of both worlds: Privacy and openness at the tower This iGaming company office located within the new 14 East high-rise in Gzira has it all. Designed by Elisa Fedeli and Edward Coppini from Parallel Architects, it showcases stunning views reaching from Sliema and St Julian’s to Manoel Island and Valletta right on to Mdina – views that can be enjoyed from anywhere within due to the glass partitions, without, crucially, compromising on privacy, thanks to expert acoustic treatments. Edward Coppini explains how this was achieved to Sarah Micallef.

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“The furniture is all custom-made, including the upholstery, which was another very interesting phase of the project.”

Photos by Luca Noto

“T

he client approached us as they were planning to take over the ninth floor,” says Edward Coppini of the impressive office within Gzira’s 14 East, which comprises half of the ninth floor of the tower.

Showing me the plans, Perit Coppini explains that the space was being handed over to their client, an iGaming company, already finished from all services, although design-wise, it was thought out as an entirely open-plan space. “The only set rooms were the bathrooms and server room, which we retained, but the rest was an open space which we needed to modify, in keeping with the client’s needs.”

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The whole of the office enjoys fantastic views, with the perimeter of the building itself entirely made of glass. Because of this, Perit Coppini tells me, the outlook was quite an important factor when designing the layout. “The client requested that it not be kept as an open space, so as to accommodate different offices and departments,” he says.

Apart from individual offices, the new layout includes a large kitchen area, TV area and coffee station, as well as another two spaces: a formal boardroom for important meetings, and a more casual meeting space in which employees can meet, hang out after work, or have a small event. The

office also enjoys a sizeable terrace, which the architects chose to make accessible via this meeting room. “The terrace also had a bearing on how to allocate the spaces – it made sense for the terrace to be used for entertainment, so we linked it with the casual meeting room.”

But, due to the glass perimeter and awkwardly shaped space, the division wasn’t a straightforward one. “The fact that the façade is made of glass means that you are restricted. You don’t have a blank wall; so it was an exercise to calculate divisions according to mullions. The shape of the space was also not straightforward, consisting of a number of triangular shapes, 99

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so fitting it in and providing the right space ergonomically for each desk was also a challenge,” he continues, albeit one which the team certainly rose to.

“Despite the divisions, we didn’t want to lose the open feel of the space – the fact that you can see all the views as soon as you enter the office,” Perit Coppini explains, leading to the decision to use glazed internal walls.

“Most of the internal walls are glazed, but we needed to juggle privacy at the same time.”

In fact, the client’s first request, and Parallel Architects’ primary consideration, was getting

the acoustics right. “The first thing we did was rip up and replace the walls between both properties (the walls dividing the two halves of the floor),” he says, explaining that the only solid walls in the tower were the core and columns, with the rest comprising glass and a lightweight gypsum.

“As always, we liaised with a sound engineer, who we brought on board for this project. Once we had the brief from the client and came up with a design of the space, we engaged him to spec up the partitions,” he continues, maintaining that all the partitions

within the space are specked so as to have total privacy from one room to the other.

The modifications also necessitated the change of services within the ceiling. “Apart from moving the obvious services like ACs and fire sprinklers, we also had to factor in the fresh air ducts which were crossing from one room to the other and, from one office to the next, and which could effectively work as an intercom,” he affirms, so these were replaced and properly insulated, following a simulation of each space by the sound engineer.

“The client requested that it not be kept as an open space, so as to accommodate different offices and departments.”

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Another challenge was the reverberation which comes along with the glass surfaces.

“We added perforated boards and rockwool in the ceiling, which reduce the echo. Glass doesn’t absorb sound, so we treated as much as we could of the ceiling to cut out the reverberation of the space. This was also done through the sound engineer’s simulation, and it worked out very well,” he continues.

Design-wise, the overall look of the

office is contemporary and clean. “While there is some colour, we focused more on the use of raw materials, including an elegant walnut veneer which is corporate yet contemporary,” Perit Coppini explains, highlighting the cabinets inserted into niches, allowing them to be viewed as part of the wall rather than an addition in the room. “This way, the furniture forms part of the line of the wall. The desks are also all motorised and height adjustable, so each

“Despite the divisions, we didn’t want to lose the open feel of the space – the fact that you can see all the views as soon as you enter the office.”

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employee can adjust their desk to their preference,” he says, adding, “the furniture is all custom-made, including the upholstery, which was another very interesting phase of the project,” highlighting the custom kitchen, coffee station, filing cabinets, meeting room bench, printing hub and boardroom unit.

And despite the challenges, Perit Coppini agrees that the team was able to achieve a great balance: “although it is not a traditional kind of office with closed spaces, you get the feeling of an open space while still enjoying privacy between one space and the next.” Indeed, the best of both worlds! cc

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Fashion Trends

Here comes the sun, and with it a slew of summer fashion trends typified by breathable fabrics, light and bright colours, and edgy styles. Martina Said picks her favourites.

01. Maxi dresses

STYLE

Loose fits in menswear are all the rage this season, even for shirts. The rise of the Cuban collar, which is an open collar and starts buttoning from the chest, looks extremely sleek, and pairs well with tailored trousers as well as slimmer fitting jeans.

05. The summer suit

No style or length of dress is more versatile – and loved by women for its versatility – than the maxi dress. It’s the most adaptable style of dress for summer days at the office, after-work events, as well as late nights out.

Women’s suits have run the gamut the last few years – from oversized to sleek to slouchy. No matter the style that rocks your boat, you’ll find it in lightweight fabrics such as linen and cotton this season, as seen on the rails of Zara and Massimo Dutti.

02. Double-breasted fits

06. Wider fits

The double-breasted suit is the shape of the season, and not the fitted kind either.

Men who really feel the heat in summer will rejoice with the loose-fitting style of the current double-breasted suit, which is also, according to trend reports, best worn open.

03. White Could there be a more obvious colour choice for this season? White is a wardrobe staple all year round, but it tends to catch our eye that much more in summer, when high street rails are gleaming with white blouses, shirts, dresses, bags, accessories and all.

REVIEW

04. Cuban collars

Topping off the laid-back look in menswear are trousers with a roomy fit. While you’d be glad to put away your tight clothes for the summer, not every man might be willing to embrace this trend. Test the waters with a pair of looser-fitting jeans, and move on to chinos or loosely tailored trousers if you like the deal. cc

01.

Roolee

03.

02.

Hawes & Curtis

ME+EM

Reiss

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05.

Massimo Dutti

04.

Cos

06.

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CC make the headlines

HSBC fostering Maltese businesses to thrive internationally HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. has created a meeting space at Malta’s premier export promotion agency, TradeMalta, which will be open to clients looking to discover international opportunities in a changing trade world.

HSBC’s support is enabling TradeMalta to grow Maltese businesses internationally

The meeting room is located inside TradeMalta’s premises at Tigné Point, Sliema. It is hoped that the meeting space will serve as an incubator of ideas for businesses seeking out TradeMalta’s services.

The development is a sign of a growing relationship between HSBC Malta and TradeMalta, which have recently renewed a strategic support agreement for another three years. The agreement sees the two parties work on several joint projects including country specific seminars,

training and education programmes, and international trade missions.

“We recognise the role collaboration plays in bringing new ideas in a changing global trade scenario. HSBC is committed to supporting business and export innovation, and we are looking forward to continuing our strong and established relationship with TradeMalta,” says Michel Cordina, Executive Director and Head of Business Development of HSBC Malta.

HSBC is also the strategic sponsor of TradeMalta’s signature Malta International

Business Awards (MIBA), which will be held for the second time in 2019.

A brainchild of TradeMalta with the strategic support of HSBC Malta, the initiative enjoys the endorsement of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, the sponsorship of audit firm Grant Thornton, the partnership of marketing communications firm BPC International Ltd, and of the architectural sinage company Big Exhibits. cc

Making your HR operations smarter

With this and more in mind, DataByte has launched HR Assistant, a fully scalable Human Resources Calendar and Document Repository software module which forms part of its WorkForce – cloud HR software suite, a system that has already been adopted by hundreds of companies around Malta and Gozo.

HR Assistant is a graphic module that helps HR managers keep track of deadlines and other important dates related to the HR processes. These may include employee probation period elapses, work anniversaries,

employees’ birthdays, renewal dates of periodic licences and certificates, contracts and other reminders that could prove to be very hard to administer without our digital HR Assistant.

Whist enabling a new level of productivity and efficiency within HR teams, HR Assistant helps create a smaller footprint when compared to the regular processes and procedures of an HR team, since HR Assistant maps essential dates and functions on the company’s HR calendar and document repository.

HR Assistant is available with a free 60-day trial for HR teams that want to experience the benefits of such a platform. This trial will also give access to other modules available within WorkForce, which include: Payroll software for Malta, Absence Management, Time and Attendance, Visitor Management and an HR Task Tracking system.

These software modules integrate to offer a smooth, productive HR experience and are accessed through the secure, cloud WorkForce framework, which also offers an Employee Portal to allow employees to interact with the system and the HR team. cc

The bigger the organisation, the more complex are the issues related to the monitoring of HR document upkeep and organised filing, the management of HR deadlines and compliance issues.

More information on www.trademalta.org

Visit www.databyte.com.mt or contact DataByte on T: 2345 6300 for more information about HR Assistant and WorkForce.

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CC make the headlines

MaltaPost launches eSeller MaltaPost offers a variety of services that help overcome your logistical challenges, particularly if you are an online merchant.

MaltaPost’s ecommerce proposition is being strengthened by its comprehensive service, eSeller, which caters for the storage, packing and dispatching services to both local and international destinations.

Whether you are a merchant with a high street presence or you are just starting off in the market with an innovative offering, MaltaPost is your ideal logistics partner.

Delivery options abound from lower cost untracked services to express courier solutions.

Make the most of global market opportunities MaltaPost’s eSeller provides an easy-touse platform to increase sales, streamline your business and expand to new local and international markets.

Book online Save time and effort with MaltaPost’s collection and delivery service. We will pick up your parcels and deliver them to consumers in Malta or abroad. We can handle any type of ecommerce shipment, from small to large parcels.

Easy and transparent cost structure MaltaPost’s eSeller rates are tailored to your needs and preferences. All payments can be settled through an easy to use online payment gateway, allowing the items to quickly start their voyage to your customers.

A complete solution We can take over all the storage, handling, packing, labelling and delivery needs of your product. This will ensure a streamlined and hassle-free selling process for your business, and an efficient delivery experience for your customers.

You can send items purchased through your website by following these easy steps: 1. Contact us on business@maltapost.com in order to register for the service and get your log in credentials.

2. Log onto the eSeller portal and provide the delivery address and weight of each item. Print the MaltaPost label generated on the portal with its unique tracking number for each item and affix it to the item.

3. Book a courier pick up through the eSeller online system or drop items at your nearest Post Office.

You can track your items online on www.maltapost.com/tracking until they reach their destination. cc For more information visit www.maltapost.com/eseller

CC MEET THE ARTIST

Photos by Alan Carville

Merging passions: The symbiosis of art and architecture Maltese artist Sarah Calleja talks Vanessa Conneely through how she combines her profession and hobby, as well as the influence being a mother has had on her painting.

T

he second you step through the peppermint green door of Sarah Calleja’s home, you can instantly tell what she is passionate about – architecture and art. The painter lives in a house in Birkirkara with her husband and four-yearold daughter Lucy. Shutting the door to the noisy street, you enter a hall that leads to her white and bright studio-office filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, as well as some of Sarah’s earliest artwork.

One painting instantly catches my eye. It’s a headless portrayal of a large, nude woman.

The bold yellow, pink and red strokes reveal the contours of a confident full-figured muse, proud of her curves and folds. “I painted this when I was 21 while I was at university,” says Sarah. “I went to a summer course at Parsons School of Design in New York. The model posed for us. She took a full-day to complete, but it was fun to be in the studio and just paint.”

Sarah agrees that since then, her style

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and technique have changed a lot. Looking at her recent work, not only have the colours softened, but the style has evolved. “I started painting at a very young age – I think I was around six. I took classes in the summer and was encouraged to keep painting on my own, which I did throughout my teens. But when it came to the point when I had to pick a career, I chose architecture, as back then, there weren’t a lot of options for art courses in Malta and studying abroad was difficult prior to Malta joining the EU. While I kept painting, I had less time when I left university and started my first architecture job.”

But becoming a mother four years ago changed how Sarah thought about the future, and how she wanted to spend her precious spare time. “After my daughter was born, I decided that painting was not a passion I wanted to lose. When you have children you obviously have less time, so you must choose the parts of your life you want to keep.

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“I find that by looking at other artworks I can use them as a filter for where I want to go next with my own painting.”

While I’d love to do yoga or other activities, I feel like painting is what I like the most, so I’ve tried to keep that up.”

Sarah has managed to etch out time every week when she can focus on her art. “Most Saturday mornings I leave the house while it’s still dark and meet a group of fellow artists, and we paint together on location. We go to places like Mellieha to paint by the sea, or inland to Buskett to capture the trees and woodland. We choose sunrise to avoid any crowds and capture the light.

“Before I paint, I spend about half an hour walking around to decide what I want to paint, where I want to paint it and how I want it to look. Then I do a composition study, a little sketch to try out the overall composition and pick a colour scheme. Once I decide how I want my painting to look, it doesn’t matter if the light changes. If necessary, I’ll use a photo as a point of reference, but I often intentionally depart from the landscape and am not too bothered with making a faithful representation of it. I try and create a mood rather than a replica. I JUNE/JULY 2019

usually have a clear vision at the start of my work about where I want to be and try not to get lost along the way. If I do get lost, I just walk away and let it dry, and distract myself by looking at what the other artists are doing.

Then I go back to my easel and try and pull it back together. If that doesn’t work, it’s OK, because it’s all a learning process and I’ve still enjoyed a morning being outside.”

“I find being surrounded by other artists the biggest form of inspiration for me. It’s such fun to see their different techniques and ways of looking at things, and I get exposed to methods I would never have thought of before. I might learn about how to mix a new colour, talk to artists about what kind of brushes or spray-gun they use, or even the absorption of the canvas or paper.

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CC meet the artist I find that by looking at other artworks I can use them as a filter for where I want to go next with my own painting.”

“In terms of medium, I mainly use watercolour, ink and acrylics. Outdoors I find watercolours work best for me as they dry quickly and allow me to have something finished to take home. They also suit the weather in Malta and allow me to layer my paint. They are lighter to carry and give me more options. On the negative side, they can be less forgiving than acrylic, as once the paint touches the canvas you can’t go back.

There is no covering over a mistake with white. But overall, watercolours work best for me. I work fast, so this medium suits me the best.”

Working fast seems like something a timestrapped full-time working mother must get used to – but it can also lead to inspiration.

Sarah’s daughter Lucy was the subject of one of Sarah’s recent artworks, which now sits over the little girl’s bed. “I painted her once, but it actually happened by accident. I was stretching a large piece of paper which I had been meaning to do for a while. Lucy wandered into my studio and said ‘OK Mum, I’m going to stand on this paper and you are going to trace me’. I was thinking, ‘I’ve been trying to do this task for eight months, but fine, I will trace you’. Then she told me ‘I want to be wearing my tutu’. She was a very difficult client as she kept demanding that I use more pink,” laughs Sarah.

And how does she feel Malta’s family of artists are treated on the island? “Personally, I haven’t sought much in terms of funding or grants from Government as it is not my

full-time job, but when it comes to artists supporting each other within the community, I think that is strong.” Sarah especially felt this bond when she held her first solo exhibition at Gallery 23 in Balzan in March.

“It was very nice as other artists offered to help me set up before I even started.” The show was a great success, with Sarah selling around 80 per cent of the 40 paintings on display.

But the exhibition didn’t come without some nerves from its creator. “I was a little overwhelmed at the beginning, especially when we set up and there were suddenly two rooms filled with just my work. I looked around and thought ‘this is all me’. Initially, I felt a little exposed and vulnerable, but once people walked through the door on the night of the launch and the feedback was positive, I felt better. Overall, it exceeded my expectations and I’m very pleased. It was great exposure and now I have my work hanging in people’s homes and in businesses, which is a good feeling.”

Speaking of business, does Sarah believe that Malta’s artists are benefiting from the country’s current economic boom? “I think it would make sense that they are. There are more offices being built, so businesses are buying more art to put on their walls. I’ve heard from other artists that they are doing better.”

And of course, it’s also a good time to be an architect in Malta right now. Sarah runs her own firm called Unfold Architects in San Gwann with her partner Alexia Gingell Littlejohn. “We’ve been running it for five years and it’s a fun venture because we can

do both small and large projects, and we like to go into a lot of detail. This way we have more control over what we do.”

And sitting in Sarah’s home drinking tea while we chat, it’s easy to see how she blends architecture and art so seamlessly. “There are certain elements which are very similar.

For example, how you compose something.

Of course, architecture is much more restrictive because you have a client and a brief to answer to, as well as standards and legislation to follow. But at the design stage you do use a similar part of your brain. Art is much freer, and you can experiment more. If you make a mistake in a painting it doesn’t really matter as you can start again, this can’t be said with a building!” cc

“I simply try and have a clear vision at the start of my work about where I want to be and try not to get lost along the way.”

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