“Around four months prior to departure, we plan for the dialysis needs, which involve a lot of organisation. At Lourdes, the patients need to continue with their treatment of haemodialysis, so we have to ensure that every personal and practical care is available,” said Josette Parnis, Renal Unit Head Nurse, Mater Dei Hospital.

“Apart from providing them with both therapeutic and spiritual support, thanks to LifeCycle Foundation and their sponsors, this pilgrimage offers patients the opportunity to travel and have better quality time,” added Ms Parnis.

While at Lourdes, the group participated in religious ceremonies including the international mass, the adoration of the Holy Eucharist and opportunities to receive the Sacraments including the Anointing of the Sick, visits to the Piscines (Baths) as well as visits to the internationally-renowned Grotto.

“It is difficult for persons suffering from kidney failure to travel on their own. Thanks to the accompanying medical staff, the renal patients have peace of mind that they can still receive their treatment while in Lourdes and enjoy the experience. We are confident that our yearly support is very beneficial for them,” said LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry.

LifeCycle Foundation has been supporting renal patients as well as their families for the past 21 years. Nescafé 3in1 is the title sponsor of LifeCycle Challenge 2019.

The post LifeCycle supports renal patients on Lourdes Pilgrimage first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Malta Enterprise recently held the second edition of Startup Café; an event providing a space for newly established startups and the youth to meet and network with mentors from different fields and backgrounds.

During the event, seasoned entrepreneurs shared their experiences to help participants further develop their business enterprising skills. The event offers a venue to discuss ideas, pose questions or simply catch up with the current and emerging trends and business realities.

Startup Café is organised by Malta Enterprise with the support of the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses and Young Enterprise Malta Foundation (JAYE Malta), within the framework of the Malta SME Week.

Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise has promised the startup community that the ME will continue working to help those interested in setting up their own business.

The post Malta Enterprise supports startups with €2m since 2015 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

HSBC says its new app helps to streamline money transfers and also supports biometric login, such as Touch ID and Face ID for Apple and Fingerprint ID for compatible Android devices. Alternatively, users can use a six-digit PIN for logging in.

“We have decided to link the launch of our new app to an important local initiative which will see us donate up to €20,000 to Nature Trust Malta. In this way, anyone who downloads and uses the new app will also be supporting the environment,” said Dan Robinson, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management.

The mobile app uses up-to-date encryption technology, and allows users to view account details and balances, see their transfer history, as well as can transfer between their own accounts, pay a third-party account with HSBC Malta, pay a third-party account within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and also make payments to companies.

Nevertheless, for third-party transactions, the payees must first be set up through the bank’s personal internet banking platform.

The post HSBC Malta to donate up to €20,000 for planting trees first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“Being associated with such a dynamic organisation, we appreciate not only the balance in life through sports, but also the contribution which sports can give to society and especially those in need,” said Giuliana Isolani, Nestlé Country Manager. 

“We, at Nestlé, are fully convinced of the supporting role that our most loved coffee brand by the Maltese population, Nescafé, could have in achieving goals for a good cause. May this be only the start of a long journey together,” Ms Isolani added. 

The Nescafé 3in1 LifeCycle Challenge 2019 will take 27 cyclists through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Sponsored by Nestlé’s Nescafé 3in1 for two consecutive years, the challenge will take place between 12 and 21 September. The cyclists and support team will fly from Malta on 9 September and will arrive back home on 24 September.

“Simply called Nescafé 3in1 LifeCycle Challenge owing to the three South East Asian countries we are visiting; the cyclists will travel almost 2,000 km in 10 days. The landscape in Vietnam is of rich vegetation and long climbs while in Laos and Cambodia we will see long distances through remote villages, following the Mekong Delta, The finish is at one of the world’s greatest wonders, the iconic Angkor Wat,” said LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry during a press conference yesterday.  

“The temperature is expected to be 30 degrees plus, with humidity levels over 90%. Sleeping will be in tents. When we use the word “challenge”, we really mean daring… and certainly not for the faint-hearted,” Mr Curry continued. 

“It is inspiring to see so many people coming together to give their time, money and expertise in the service of others. Entrepreneurs and our private sector form the backbone of this country. When they harness their abilities and channel this towards social and environmental good, the whole community can only benefit,” said Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Christian Cardona. 

Helping those who suffer

LifeCycle Malta Foundation is a non-profit organization (NGO) that raises money to support patients suffering from kidney failure and covers the areas of awareness, treatment and research. In order to achieve these goals, the foundation collaborates with the medical staff at the Renal Unit of Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta Research Trust (RIDT).

LifeCycle has supported the needs of kidney disease patients and their families for the past 20 years, furthering also awareness of organ transplants in Malta in collaboration with the Transplant Support Group. 

Moreover, the foundation set up last November a new project called Renal Unit Support Health Hub (RUSH) in order to offer a comprehensive support network for patients.

The money collected each year from various businesses and individuals goes towards the needs of kidney disease patients at the Renal Unit, including the yearly support for “Traccia” software, which facilitates the procedure of finding the right match for renal patient compatible with a kidney donor, as the press release sent to BM says.  

In addition, the RUSH project pays for psychological support to approximately 300 kidney patients and kidney donors, offering also free fitness sessions to renal patients undergoing dialysis treatment.

The post Nescafé 3in1 supports Life Cycle Challenge 2019 with €35,000 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The consulate aims to engender opportunities for Maltese-registered companies to exhibit at the SiGMA shows in Manila and to foster a connection with Philippine companies as well as build-up the event in the coming months. In addition, it seeks to promote the Philippines as a business and holiday destination with the end view to strengthen relationships between Malta and the Philippines. 

“Having established the consulate in January 2016 a lot of progress has been made in increasing awareness of the Philippines both as a Holiday Destination but also as a business gateway to the rest of Asia,” said Roger A. Strickland Jr, Philippine Consul to Malta. “The Philippines does not disappoint all those travellers who go the extra mile to visit it and absolutely nothing compares to the rich and abundant diverse natural resources the Philippines has to offer. What also makes the Philippines a truly wonderful country is the Filipino’s themselves thanks to their abundant talent, courtesy and warm hospitality,” he added.

“The Filipino workers hold a variety of skills, are bilingual, have a good educational level and are highly competent exhibiting highly reliable work ethics. We are very pleased to support SIGMA 2020 in Manila and the Consulate is available for any information that travellers or businesses might need in considering their options for their Asia focused business,” Mr Strickland added.  

Aside from taking on a supportive role for European companies looking to forge closer relations with their Asian counterparts, SiGMA hopes that the launch of the Manila 2020 will bring benefits to the hotspot, with the introduction of a number of international clients to the Asia region exerting a strong economic impact on the area.

Furthermore, this eastward move of the group capitalises on the strong interest in Asia for iGaming and emerging technologies, with an eye towards the growing value there for companies looking to move into up-and-coming iGaming markets. 

Therefore, SiGMA is looking forward to strengthening trade ties, bringing fresh opportunities for business to European affiliates, operators, and suppliers.

“We’re going to help put the spotlight on the Philippines, embracing the best of the iGaming and tech communities, with the hope that these companies that we bring there will end up setting up offices and getting a licence in the Philippines.  We do not just want to react to what’s going on out there, but we want to take an active, leading role in not only bringing the Asian and European community together but also building long-lasting commercial opportunities,” said Eman Pulis, CEO of SiGMA Group.  

The show in Manila expects to welcome over 600 exhibitors and 11,000 attendees from across the globe for two days of conferences and workshops, and premier networking events.

SiGMA Group recently announced dates for two shows in Manila for 2020, which will feature exhibits from the iGaming and the blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, respectively.

The post SiGMA Group receives support from consulate first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Focusing on Fort Rinella, FWA Chairman Mario Farrugia welcomed the Executive PR & Marketing at BOV Charles Azzopardi to Fort Rinella, with the aim of explaining the latest developments made at this site.

Fort Rinella was built in 1878 and represents a unique remnant of Malta’s British colonial past. It also houses one of the only two remaining 100-ton guns in the world. The fort was entrusted to the FWA and was transformed in a historic and touristic attraction for Malta, as the press release says.

“Our plan is to continue to regenerate this site to attract local and international visitors to a unique experience in a one-of-a-kind monument. The latest acquisition through the Bank’s collaboration is a flail mower that enables us to keep the extensive cultivated area of the Fort in immaculate condition for the enjoyment of the visitors,” said Mr Farrugia.

“While the need to preserve cultural heritage is widely recognized, the availability of the financial resources to do so is often not so widely available. Bank of Valletta, through its extensive Community Programme, supports numerous heritage projects that we are convinced enrich the individual lives of citizens while playing a role in enhancing Malta’s image internationally,” said Mr Azzopardi.

“We understand that Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has further projects in the pipeline, and are eagerly looking forward to seeing these projects come into fruition,” Mr Azzopardi added.

The post BOV pledges further support for Malta’s cultural heritage first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“We are delighted to be corporate sponsors of KSJC. At Bank of Valletta, we believe strongly in the importance of youths in our community and through such agreements, we strengthen our relationships with students throughout their different life stages,” said Vanessa Borg from BOV PR & Marketing Departments.

“We look forward to working hand in hand with this student body, assisting them to familiarise themselves with the world of financial services and supporting them throughout their education journey. Our first project together was, in fact, the participation of these students in this year’s BOV Club campaign, which will be launched in the coming weeks,” Ms Borg added.

KSJC is an independent organisation that represents Junior College students on a national and international level. Moreover, it is interested in the students’ opinion safeguarding their rights. It also promotes educational and cultural activities amongst them.

“We are extremely happy that we signed this agreement with Malta’s leading Bank, through which we can guarantee interesting initiatives and opportunities for all Junior College students to benefit from”, Mr Dimech commented.

In addition, Ms Gauci thanked BOV for its support and said that KSJC is eager to collaborate with them and is already looking into different possibilities to take this partnership further.

The post BOV supports the Kunsill Studenti Junior College first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Malta believes that the Europan Union budget should include measures that address gender inequalities in all spheres, as the EU budget is an excellent tool that has contributed to social and economic development across Europe, the DOI press statement underscores.

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) can also play a crucial role in contributing to achieving this aim. Minister Dalli also reiterated her calls about the need to protect the EU’s cohesion policy, in order to address regional disparities, the DOI press release says.

This was the last in a series of debates on the MFF 2021-2027 held under the Romanian Presidency. The General Affairs Council will then continue discussions with a view of reaching an agreement before the end of 2019, as agreed to by leaders in the December 2018 European Council Conclusions. In this context, Minister Dalli focussed on the need for further progress and compromise, n order to ensure that there are no delays.

In addition, discussions on the Conclusions on Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process focused on the European Commission’s positive recommendation for the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and The Republic of North Macedonia.

In the absence of an agreement between member states on this matter, Minister Dalli stressed the importance of proceeding on a merits-based approach and sending a strong message to these countries, also as a matter of credibility for the European Union.

Minister Dalli also made reference to the Valletta Declaration adopted last Friday in which the Southern Mediterranean EU member states expressed solidarity with Cyprus in the context of the current challenges with Turkey.

Ms Dalli also highlighted the importance of keeping a channel of communication with Turkey, noting that continued engagement can play a vital role.

The General Affairs Council finalised its preparations for the European Council scheduled for this Thursday and Friday in Brussels, which is expected to focus on institutional appointments, MFF, climate change, and external relations.

The post Minister Dalli vows support for gender equality first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

FIMBank says it “owns a strong position” in contributing to the development of this platform.

The bank is, in fact, highly active in major export markets such as India, the Middle East and Egypt, where it can partner with FCI — the global representative body for factoring and financing of open account domestic and international trade receivables — members through the 3+ and 4 “corner model”, according to the press release.

The bank’s global presence and specialised teams allow it to effectively implement FCIReverse type facilities.

FIMBank’s presence in import markets will be a key business driver for other participants in the program, under revenue sharing agreements. FIMBank shares were listed in June 2001 in Malta for the first time.

The FIMBank Group has built an international factoring network — securing debt collection and improving cash flow. The Bank’s Mediterranean Factoring Department (MED) factors in Malta, offering a comprehensive range of factoring services.

The post FIMBank vows support for FCIReverse platform first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The project was launched by Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia.

The lack of women participation in the IT sector is a problem experienced all across the European Union, and the whole world, nowadays. In 2017, the employment rate for men in this sector in the European Union was 76.9%, while for women it was 65.3%. Therefore, the target for 2020 in the EU is to reach 75% for both genders.

The initiative will be implemented in many countries, like Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Spain with €2.7m as the total budget allocated for this purpose. Out of this fund, Malta can call for €346,672 between September 2018 and August 2021.

The project is hoped to develop digital competencies and employability of young women vulnerable of getting out of a job, as well as to provide innovative solutions to increase the numbers of young women in ICT careers and in the digital economy. Special focus will fall on unemployed young women, women returning to work after maternity leave and women coming from low income or disadvantaged families. The main tools used are awareness-raising, skills assessment, innovative partnerships with employers, development of a new online employability profiling tool and training in digital jobs, according to the DOI release.

“As a country, we have improved a lot within the digital space, now becoming a main point of reference, yet we are still lagging behind in women participation. If addressed now, the digital sector could be the first sector where we could see women on par with men”, said Mr Schembri.

“This is an exciting time for women. After registering a spike in the number of women elected to the European Parliament, I look forward to the next legislature to see the fruit of the positive measures being taken locally to increase the number of women in the Maltese Parliament”, said Mr Farrugia.

“It is encouraging to see the government fully committed to reducing the digital divide and organisations coming together today to support this collaborative framework. Thanks to this commitment we can ensure that women and young girls are truly allowed to decide their future and regain their destiny” said Dana Farrugia the CEO at Tech.MT, an organisation launched by the Malta Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the government, aiming to help support further growth of the local technology sector.

The post Malta launches EU-funded Women4IT project first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.