Artisans should form association - Vassallo

Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo yesterday reiterated government’s commitment to make small businesses sustainable when he addressed a meeting between the European Union Information Centre and the Small Business Unit, yesterday.
Vassallo suggested that artisans should organise themselves in an association to improve their sales potential and ensure cheaper prices for raw materials, and said standards should be set for Maltese products.
"We should work to ensure that our artisans products are given priority and importance in the market. It is a mistake to look at our limitations; we should be optimistic and believe that we can reach even the highest standards. There is no reason to give up hope, and look at our deficiencies when compared to other countries," the parliamentary secretary said.
"The manufacturer must make a quantum quality jump forward. No longer should manufacturers solely be concerned with just selling at a profit. In a now more competitive market businesses have to be more competitive and enterprising," Vassallo concluded.