The Business Times Malta



Issue No. 191	27 June - 6 Jjuly 2001

Interview
GEORGE ZAMMIT
DAVID LINDSAY SPEAKS TO PLC CHAIRMAN ABOUT THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE INNOVATIVE PRODUCT THE COMPANY OFFERS

Editorial
Will the Church speak up on the EU?

+ The effect of losing one’s currency

Focus

HSBC Holdings Chairman visits Malta
HSBC Holdings Chairman, Sir John Bond briefly visited Malta last week. During his stay he met with Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Finance Minister John Dalli, Central Bank Governor Michael Bonello and MFSC Chairman Joe Bannister.

The International Fair of Malta
With an attendance of over 150,000 visitors, The International Fair of Malta has established itself as the major event in the Maltese commercial calendar.

MSE becomes FESE associate member

The Malta Stock Exchange was recently admitted by the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE) as an Associate Member during the Federation’s General Assembly. The General Assembly approved the application by the Malta Stock Exchange for Associate Membership after the Exchange had become a Corresponding Member last year

Opinion
Dissemination of standards – an ongoing process
Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici last week gave a detailed description of the role of the Malta Standards Authority. The establishment of standards, Prof Bonnici explains, is increasingly becoming an important pillar of the new global trade system.

Local News

Euro-panic will benefit Malta
The tax evading Belgian, Dutch German and French public are in a frenzy to transfer as many of their undeclared Belgian and French francs, Guilders and Deutsche Marks in cash to non-euro countries in the form of property investments.

Freeport activity could drop by 75% if CMA CGM pulls out
Shortly after the Malta Freeport conceded to union demands for substantial raises for port workers, it now appears as though it stands to lose one of its best customers – CMA CMG.

Foreign investors expected to bail out Price Club
A solution for the Price Club’s fiscal turmoil appears to be on the horizon, with insiders informing The Business Times that investors from Italy, Ireland and South Africa have been discussing the possibility of buying an unspecified amount of shares in the troubled supermarket chain.

Decision to block EU citizens seen as unfair
The decision to grant a concession to Malta to bar EU citizens from working here is seen as a major victory for the pro-EU camp but an affront to the dignity of those EU nationals who have been waiting for the day when they can regularise their position in Malta

Business incubation initiative gets off the ground
The Kordin Business Incubation Centre is now in the process of getting off the ground, with a seminar being held yesterday and another this morning at the Radisson.

J.B. Plastics crowned METCO Manufacturing Exporter of the Year
J.B. Plastics Limited, a fully Maltese owned company has been presented with the METCO Exporter of the Year – Manufacturing Award for 2000. This is a prestigious award that "acknowledges the export marketing and export sales achievements of producers of manufactured goods."

Drainage department safety overhaul
Government has spent more then a quarter of a million pounds on specialised safety equipment and training for drainage department employees.

New website for Department of Information
The Department of Information has launched a new website

Malta Maritime Authority at Norwegian Maritime Exhibition
The Malta Maritime Authority recently participated at the 18th edition of Nor-Shipping Exhibition 2001 held in Oslo, Norway

MIDI unveils plans for prime office space at Tigne’ Point
MDI plc has announced that, between 2003 and 2005, it will be launching on to the market substantial office space of some 10,000 to 12,000 square metres.

Emirates launches DH 750 million bond issue
Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline has launched a 750 DH million (approx. Lm10 million) bond issue to partly finance new projects of the Group.

Cashlink withdrawals exceed Lm7 million a month
Bank of Valletta has launched a new image for its Cashlink Card. The design which is in line with the Bank’s new Visa and MasterCard images, launched earlier this year, creates consistency and gives continuity to the range of BOV plastic cards.

The Business Times, Network House, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 07
Tel: (356) 382741-3, 382745-6 | Fax: (356) 385075
Editor: Saviour Balzan
e-mail: [email protected]