Chamber and FOI considering merger

Matthew Vella

The Malta Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Industry are actively pursuing a route towards merging into one united body, this newspaper has learnt.
Yesterday, FOI president Adrian Bajada confirmed the two organisations were working on the merger. “Discussions are underway. It’s a possibility and we’re working on it.”
Bajada said there was a clear case for the merger. “It’s being looked at seriously. There is a lot of synergy between the two organisations, and we can give a better service to our members that way. It’s a course of action which will have to be approved by our members during an extraordinary general meeting.”
The Chamber of Commerce is housed at the Exchange Buildings in Valletta while the FOI are situated in Floriana. The Chamber of Commerce also acts as arbitrator in the settlement of disputes connected with commerce, industry, shipping, and it attends to inquiries and problems in relation to these sectors. It was set up as a voluntary constituted body and officially recognised in 1848.
The Federation of Industry, founded in 1946, is the independent voice of the small, medium and large manufacturing and services enterprises which constitute industry in Malta.