“The Kamra also expressed its deep concern for public safety due to conflicts between the Civil Code and the new regulations, and the confusion surrounding the apportionment of responsibilities,” the press statement says. “The Kamra tal-Periti also insisted on the urgency for the setting up of a system of registration of contractors so members of the public, and periti [Maltese word for ] themselves, can begin to regain confidence in the industry,” the statement added.

The association and the government also agreed to hold further meetings to discuss amendments to the new regulations that will be proposed by the Kamra together with its team of legal consultants for Government’s consideration. “The Kamra tal-Periti reiterates its commitment to assist the government in fulfilling its intention to bring about a positive reform of the industry in the interest of public safety,” the press statement notes.

The Kamra tal-Periti press statement raises concerns over Regulation 26 states that “[w]hen before the start of the works, the perit in charge of the project certifies, after giving clear reasons, that the structural interventions will not affect third party property, the provisions of regulations 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 do not apply”.

According to the association, this regulation “implies that if a perit [architect] certifies that no damage will occur to third-parties during works, the entire set of regulations can be circumvented. If damages do occur, the perit [architect] issuing such certification would carry personal criminal and civil responsibility for anything that happens, even when the contractor is at fault.”

The association says that this has put members of the profession under immense pressure to sign such declarations as contractors and developers are incurring extremely high costs due to the effective suspension of works. “The Kamra has received multiple reports from members of the profession who received personal threats as well as threats of crippling and vexatious lawsuits if they do not sign such declarations,” the press statement adds.

After the walls of three buildings collapsed in the past two months in Malta near construction sites, forcing the government to temporarily halt demolition and excavation works, the Kamra called for an extraordinary general meeting. Prior to the EGM the Kamra published its preliminary position, and after the EGM the Kamra pledged commitment to improving the public safety of citizens and urged the government to enter discussions with the association. The Kamra also welcomed the recent listing of licensed masons published on the website of the Building Regulation Office (BRO). The Kamra sent a letter to the minister, asking to clarify a number of points. At the same time, the Kamra also asked for a meeting prior to the publication of the legal notice.

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The meeting took place on the sidelines of the European Development Days (EDD). The EDD is Europe’s leading forum on development and has been held every year since 2006. This event is organised by the European Commission and brings the development community together to share ideas. Moreover, it experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, as the DOI press statement says.

This year’s theme was “Addressing inequalities: Building a world which leaves no one behind”. It was chosen especially in view of the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum, during which the UN will take stock of the deliverance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.

Malta’s presence at the EDD highlighted the country’s longstanding commitment to development and the implementation of the SDGs, the government press release insists. Taking the floor at a discussion under the theme “In search of equality: Migration, forced displacement, and the SDGs”, Minister Carmelo Abela stressed the need for a comprehensive regional and global approach to migration, a balanced narrative on the phenomenon, and the direct involvement of the youth to achieve lasting solutions.

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Under the agreement, the two parties will work on several joint projects including country-specific seminars, training and education programmes, and international trade missions. The two sides consider the current partnership to be the development of their growing relationship, after having recently renewed a strategic support agreement for another three years.

“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,” said Michel Cordina, Executive Director and Head of Business Development of HSBC Malta.

Malta International Business Awards deadline nearing

HSBC is also the strategic sponsor of TradeMalta’s signature ‘Malta International Business Awards’ (MIBA) offered for the second time in 2019. Applications for the awards will be closed at 17:00 on Friday 28 June 2019, while finalists will be announced on 31 July. Winners will be announced during a ceremony on 22 November.

The awards are open to all enterprises with a good internationalisation story to tell, be they exporters of products, providers of services, franchisors or international businesses with head office functions in Malta. Participants can make submissions for one or more award categories.

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 the architectural signing company Big Exhibits.

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The summit provided insight into various initiatives and projects undertaken by Maltese research and businesses, as well as the innovation support available through Malta Enterprise and the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCAST). It also touched on R&D and innovation-related progress at the Malta Life Sciences Park, Trade Malta, and the University of Malta, according to the press statement

The representatives from Malta Enterprise and MCAST took part in the Innovation Funders meeting, which brought together top-level attendees involved in innovation support from over 30 countries, the EUREKA network and the European Commission, as the press release says.

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The two ministers “pledged to intensify the good relationship” built between the two countries along the years, the press statement notes.

The two officials attended the meeting in the company of the two respective Central Bank Governors, Mario Vella and Ignazio Visco, the Italian Ambassador to Malta, Mario Sammartino, and the Chief of Staff for the Ministry for Finance, Paul Debattista, the press release adds.

Ministers, Governors and high officials from the Finance Ministries and Central Banks of Italy, Greece, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Albania and Timor-Leste, attended the aforementioned constituency meeting, another DOI press release informs.

During the constituency meeting, two presentations were held entitled “Fostering social and gender inclusion” and “Toward a new Social Contract”, by Shekhar Aiyar, Advisor for the IMF, and Maurizio Bussolo, Lead Economist from the World Bank, respectively.

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