T H E M A L TA C H A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E , E N T E R P R I S E A N D I N D U S T R Y A N N UA L A D M I N I S T R AT I V E R E P O R T 201 8 / 1 9
Office in Malta. The purpose of the workshop was to promote the e-commerce guide that was produced by the Sector Group and to encourage participants, primarily entrepreneurs in the retail sector, to go online. 29 October 2018 Doing Business With: Indonesia The Malta Chamber’s Internationalisation Desk, in collaboration with Enterprise Europe Network partner EU-Indonesia Business Network and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, organised an information seminar on business and investment opportunities in Indonesia. During the event H.E. Esti Andayani, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia in Rome, underlined her intention to strengthen common business interest with Malta. This intention follows in the ambit of the sixth round of negotiations between the EU and Indonesia towards a Trade Agreement, which took place in Indonesia earlier in October. Once established, the Trade Agreement will provide a legal framework towards the creation of longterm business on various aspects of trade. Such a scenario provided participants with an opportunity to receive greater technical detail and information regarding the current economic development and trade opportunities in Indonesia with speakers from the Indonesia Central Bank Representative Office for Europe and the EU-Indonesia Business Network. Indonesia’s 73rd Independence Day anniversary was also celebrated during a commemorative reception courtesy of the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, with the participation of the Acting President of Malta Dolores Cristina.
The two-day meetings discussed the workplan and strategic initiatives that are being organised in Malta and on a pan-European level to maximise partnering opportunities for select companies. As evidenced in its mission statement, the EEN Sector Group – Retail aims at helping local SMEs that sell to other businesses or consumers from a physical or online outlet to develop their presence overseas – be it via e-commerce, distributors or franchise. As the way of retailing products and services changes around the world, the Sector Group also helps these SMEs establish a sustainable supply chain, partner with the right expertise and utilise the right technology. Through joint activities, the Sector Groups support creative companies to find partners for joint projects, exploring new markets as well as sharing knowledge, ideas, innovation and inspiration. Moreover, Lino Mintoff, as Chairman of the Retail Sector Group, coordinated the Sector Group’s internal meetings and activities during the past year, including the coordination of the said group at EU level during additional meetings of the Chairpersons of all Sector Groups. In May 2018, the Malta Chamber hosted the Sector Groups’ Chairpersons meeting for an important encounter prior to the Network’s annual conference in Vienna, during which the Best Practice Awards took place. These awards recognise good practices that help improve the work and raise the quality of the services provided by the Network. Among the 15 nominations for a Best Practice Award, Mr Mintoff was a finalist in the Sector Groups category, recognising the most efficient, innovative and transferable initiatives implemented by Sector Groups in the previous year.
Brokerage Events 26-27 January 2018 Lifestyle Industry Business Meetings at HOMI 2018 On the occasion of HOMI, the key trade fair focused on lifestyles, multi-cultural themes and the wellbeing of the people and their environment, the Malta Chamber co-organised the matchmaking event Lifestyle Industry Business Meetings at HOMI organised by Enterprise Europe Network partner Finlombarda S.p.a., offering producers, distributors, designers and retailers the opportunity to find new potential commercial and technological partners.
Workshops/Seminars 19 April 2018 Cross Your Border – Improve Your Opportunities in the Single Market In an initiative of collaboration between members of the Sector Group – Retail, the Malta Chamber organised a workshop with the support of Network partner Chamberlink Ltd, as part of the Single Market Forum, which was organised by the European Commission Representation
19-20 April 2018 Fuorisalone2018 at Milan Design Week Every year, in April, Salone and Fuorisalone define the Milan Design Week. CNA Lombardia, with Finlombarda, Unioncamere Lombardia and FAST organised a brokerage event during the Milan Design Week, one of the most important design
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