25-31 October 2000



Other news:

Rinella movie park post mortem needed
Rinella Movie Park may have managed to keep open if tour operators had lent a helping hand, according to the Director General of the Association of General Retailers and Traders.

Mobile companies get ready to respond
With the launch of mobile phone company Go Mobile just six weeks away, competition in the mobile phone sector appears to be hotting up.
By Nadine Brincat

Valletta Fund Management inaugurates new premises
The new premises were inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, Bank of Valletta Group Chairman Mr Joseph FX Zahra and Mr Paul Manduca, Chief Executive Officer of Rothschild Asset Management and director of Valletta Fund Management Limited

APS hosts conference for farmers co-operatives and producers organisations
APS Bank recently held a conference for the Co-operative of Farmers and Producers Associations, with the participation of the Agriculture Department, MIC and the Malta Standardisation Authority.




Gozo Business Chamber joins EU Network of Insular Chambers
- goal to carry out in-depth study of Island Business Development service

The Gozo Business Chamber has been officially accepted as an associate member of the newly established Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union.

 The motion was approved during the first General Assembly of this network, which was followed by a two-day forum entitled "The Sustainable Development of Insular SMEs in View of Globalisation".

Guest speakers for this successful forum included Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner of the European Union, Prof. Vincenzo Viola, former member of the European Parliament and rapporteur of the Resolution of the European Parliament on the 'problems of the insular regions of the EU', Inger Harlevi from Gotland as well as George Giourgas, co-ordinator of the Network’s Technical Committee. Present also were presidents of chambers and national representatives of the Network from France, Spain, Greece, Italy, United Kingdom and Cyprus. The delegates from Malta representing the Gozo Business Chamber were John Magro, President, Joe Cordina, Treasurer and Joe Grech, PRO.

 The short term goals of this network were set to include meetings with national governments in charge of the Presidency of the EU, liasing with the European Commission, the Council of Europe, UNEP, PAM, MAP, CMDD, UNESCO, CRMP, B7, ASCAME, Eurochambers and international contacts with various government organisations active in the development of island regions.

 The medium term goals were also set to carry out an in-depth study of ‘Island Business Development Service’, 'Access to markets', 'Training', and 'Capitalisation on Opportunities'.

 It was established that globalisation would have its repercussions on the economies of island regions. In view of this, the need for promoting a durable development in the island territories of the EU was endorsed by all delegates present. It was also the general opinion that a course of action had to be initiated so that the disparity that exists between insular and continental regions of EU will be minimised.


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]