MBR Issue 26 Dec- LOW RES (1)

Malta Business Review
newsmakers
People in Malta and Australia benefit from the warm relations between
the two countries
Commissioner to Malta, Jane Lambert, at the
Party Headquarters.
Australia is, for many in Malta, a second home,
and it feels like a natural extension of our
family. Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil
said so as he welcomed the Australian High
Simon Busuttil said that the warm relations
between Malta and Australia need to translate
into concrete benefits for the people of both
nations. These relations have also to be
considered in the context of the European
Union. Simon Busuttil said that a Free Trade
Agreement between the EU and Australia would
open new opportunities across all levels of
society not just the wealthy.
The Leader of the Nationalist Party said that
it was a great pleasure to meet Jane Lambert
who, in the past four years has witnessed a
change in government as well as the first results
of the current administration. Simon Busuttil
congratulated the High Commissioner on her
fruitful work and her commitment to strengthen
the relations between the two countries.
Jane Lambert, on her part, expressed her
pleasure in meeting Simon Busuttil again
and agreed with him that the Malta and
Australia enjoy a special relationship. The High
Commissioner said that she is particularly
encouraged to see linkages develop among
young generations of both countries especially
in the areas of sport, science, and human rights.
Jane Lambert ended by thanking Simon Busuttil
for his support to an EU-Australia Free Trade
Agreement and for his positive work since
becoming leader of the Nationalist Party. MBR
Maltese and German Finance
Ministers meet in Berlin
Yesterday, Minister for Finance Edward
Scicluna held bilateral talks with German
Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang
Schäuble in Berlin as part of the preparations
for the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the
Council of the European Union.
Minister Scicluna and Minister Schäuble
discussed areas of common interest including
the Capital Markets Union, taxation,
budgetary issues, and the future of the
Monetary Union in the context of improving
fiscal and economic performance by the
eurozone within the current international
context.
Earlier, Minister Scicluna delivered a lecture
Minister Helena Dalli wins the Hero
of the Year at this year’s European
Diversity Award
Dr Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue,
Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties won the
prestigious Hero of the Year Award during the
6th edition of the European Diversity Award
that was held in London last night. Among
those nominated in the various categories were
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and
Italian Undersecretary of State Ivan Scalfarotto.
The ceremony which took place in the London
Museum of Natural History, was attended by over
500 participants working in the field of equality
and diversity across Europe, and amongst
others Minister Dalli received congratulations
from officials from the Office of the UN High
Commissioner on Human Rights and the Council
of Europe.
The award is given to politicians, journalists,
athletes, companies and publishing houses that
act as trailblazers in the enhancement of equality
in European society.
In her acceptance speech Minister Dalli said that
we must work hard so that the advancements
made will not get undone, referring to the
particular point in time we are living in where
threats to equality are increasing. She also
pointed out that democracy must never become
a tyranny of the majority and attention to
entitled ‘Malta: A Mediterranean Success
Model in the Euro-Zone’ at the Europäische
Bewegung Deutschland, in Berlin. The
audience included members of the
diplomatic corps, officials from the Bundestag
(the German Parliament), officials from the
German Foreign Office (including Malta Desk
officer and Head of Unit on Finance policy),
as well as representatives of the German
Chamber of Industry of Commerce and the
Association and the Association of German
Banks (BdB).
The Minister also met with a number of
political and financial correspondents of
well-known publications such as Politico, Die
Welt, Bild, and Bild am Sonntag at the Berlin
headquarters of Axel Springer SE, which is
the largest publishing house in Europe.
Minister Scicluna was accompanied by the
The Nationalist Party’s proposals
are designed to help start-ups
The Nationalist Party is set to support business
start-ups with innovative policies. Party
Leader Simon Busuttil said so during a visit to
Creolabs, a start-up in Microsoft Innovation
Centre at Skyparks Business Centre.
Simon Busuttil said the Party wants to
encourage start-ups with financial guarantees
and low-interest rates on loans in order to
help entrepreneurs develop their business
ventures.
The Nationalist Party Leader presented the
recently-launched Policy for Retailers to
Panayiotis Ioannou, Country Manager for
Microsoft Malta, and Joseph Woods, Director
of Creolabs. He said that the proposal to offer
a reduced income tax rate of just 10% for
small businesses is aimed also for start-ups.
minorities should be high on the agenda of every
government.
On the national level, finishing touches on the
Equality Bill and a Human Rights and Equality
Commission Bill aimed at mainstreaming
equality for all persons in all spheres of life are
now underway – after a wide consultation
process - with the intent of presenting the Bills to
Parliament shortly. MBR
Photos Credit: MSDC
THE MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL DIALOGUE,
CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
Maltese Ambassador to the Federal Republic
of Germany Albert Friggieri, Permanent
Secretary Alfred Camilleri, and Chief of Staff
Tania Brown. MBR
Credit/Photos: MFIN/DOI
Simon Busuttil was accompanied by
Spokesperson for Small Businesses, Retail and
Self-Employed Robert Arrigo, Spokesperson
for Financial Services, IT and Gaming Kristy
Debono, and new candidates Alex Mangion
and Amanda Abela. MBR
58