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A Brief Outline
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The Malta Business Bureau (MBB) was founded in October 1996 as the European office of the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise (COCE) and Malta Federation of Industry (FOI). These two organizations felt the need to cooperate at an international/European level given Malta's gradual integration process in the European Union.
On the 6 May 2004, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) also became a full member of the Malta Business Foundation at a ceremony marked by the signing of a public deed. The MHRA has been established since 1958 and today represents 70% of all hotels in Malta and 35% of all restaurants, collectively representing an investment of over Lm 450 million (approximately €1080 million) and employing in excess of 20,000 people. For the past 46 years the MHRA has represented the interest of hoteliers and restaurateurs on the Island acting as a lobby group to ensure that the policy decisions taken on the Island are in line with what the tourism industry needs to flourish.
The MBB is run by the Malta Business Foundation Board of Trustees (MBF) which is made up of senior officials of the three organizations. These are currently led by Mr. Victor A. Galea, President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, Mr. Adrian Bajada, President of the Malta Federation of Industry and Mr Josef Formosa-Gauci, President of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. The MBB is currently composed of two offices, the head office in Brussels, and an office in Malta. The human resource complement of the parent organizations' Secretariats is also regularly tapped for MBB-led initiatives.
The MBF meets on a regular basis, usually every 3 – 4 weeks, to monitor developments as well as provide strategic direction to the MBB. Over the years, the synergies achieved between the parent organizations through this initiative have been remarkable especially as the realization that the Maltese business community requires a direct channel to the various EU institutions which initiate proposals for wide-ranging policies. The Bureau has proved to be a very useful source of information about EU regulations and has helped the two founding organizations to take positions about various aspects of EU membership in the past few years when Malta was negotiating its entry. It has also organized a substantial number of technical meetings on specific topics that have helped Industry and the business community at large to understand the various obligations that the country has assumed over the past years.
Moreover, the MBB Brussels office, by being located as close as possible to the centre of influence, is ever more crucial given current economic and political developments at a local and international level.
Through the Brussels bureau and the back up of the Malta office, the COCE, FOI and MHRA are intensifying their information service to members and conducting lobbying activities with the European organizations representing business, industry and employers in Brussels, with the EU Commission, European Parliament and the other institutions. It is considered very important for the three employer organizations to form alliances at all levels and to make useful contributions that could influence decisions about the more important draft EU legislation that impacts upon the competitiveness of economic activity in Malta.
The MBB thus represents the COCE, the FOI and the MHRA in Brussels and Malta, by liaising directly with the European institutions, the Maltese Permanent Representation and with organizations such as BUSINESSEUROPE, EUROCHAMBRES and HOTREC on all policy and funding issues affecting Maltese business interests. It also stimulates COCE, FOI and MHRA interest and awareness of the EU and its evolving policies through a series of monthly newsletters and information seminars for members.
The MBB also advises the COCE, the FOI, the MHRA and their members on policy developments and legislative proposals currently within the EU decision-making system as well as promotes the interaction of Maltese business and EU personnel by organising tailored programmes for individual FOI, COCE and MHRA members and groups of high-level business leaders to Brussels as well as specific briefings, seminars and information campaigns on issues of topical interest.
Contact Details
Brussels Office:
Avenue d'Auderghem, 289
B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel:- 0032 2 5026091
Fax:- 0032 2 7360855
Email: info@mbb.org.mt
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Malta Office
c/o The Exchange Buildings,
Republic Street
Valletta VLT 05, Malta
Tel:- 00356 21 224415
Fax:- 00356 21 245223
Email: info@mbb.org.mt
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