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The Malta Business Foundation (MBF) inaugurated its new offices in Brussels, the La Valette Business Centre yesterday. The hosts of the event were the Presidents of the three employer bodies constituting the MBF (the Malta Federation of Industry, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association), and the VIPs included Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Commissioner Joe Borg.
Besides high ranking officials from the three employer bodies, there were representatives from Malta’s Permanent Representation, the bilateral Embassy to Belgium, MEPs, representatives from UNICE, Eurochambres and HOTREC, Brussels-based representation offices of various European regions and other offices, including think tanks, that have a very close working relationship with the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) in Brussels.
Although the Malta Business Bureau – originally the EU advisory office of the Malta Federation of Industry and the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, and since 2004, also that of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association,- was set up in 1996, a fully-fledged operation with enhanced resources started operating in the newly acquired premises, named La Valette Business Centre, close to the Commission’s headquarters at the end of last year. The La Valette Business Centre is seeking to create synergies between Maltese business operators and enterprises in various parts of Europe.
The MBB’s main functions have remained largely unchanged since 1996 and include the creation of a high profile and coherent image for Maltese business amongst EU Institutions and representative European business organizations, providing intelligence and policy advice to MBB members on existing and “in the pipeline” legislation, organizing tailor-made familiarization visits to Brussels for members, the organization of information seminars in Malta and identifying EU funding opportunities, including matching partners for EU programmes.
The office today has 4 core staff members, two based in Brussels (plus a stagiaire/office manager) and two in Malta. Since last year, the MBB is also liaising with the Maltese Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the Cabinet of Commissioner Joe Borg and Maltese officials in the various EU Institutions besides the enhanced Permanent Representation.
For further information please contact Dr. Leonard Mizzi, Director General, Malta Business Bureau, Brussels on Tel: +322 5026091 or email [email protected] |
