Representatives of Junior Chamber International Malta recently attended JCI's World Congress held at the Austria Centre in Vienna, which was attended by 5,000 JCI members from over 100 countries.
JCI Malta was represented at the congress by national president Karl Farrugia Wismayer, secretary-general David Pace, LOM President de Wignacourt Chris Mallia, and Erika Azzopardi.
Some 400 individual activities took place during the six-day congress, which is one of the largest international networking platforms welcoming the new elite of the global economy. One of the congress themes dealt with the self-commitment of businesses to socially responsible behaviour.
Highlights included the signing of the Vienna CSR Treaty to aim for more benefits in society, for the environment and to strive for social compatible management. The President of Austria and JCI President Kevin Cullinane addressed the congress. Mr Cullinane was in Malta last February to attend JCI's European Development Council Conference, organised by JCI Malta at the Corinthia San Gorg.
Other highlights of this congress included the announcement of the winners of The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) of the World Programme and the Best Business Plan (BBP) competition held every year at the JCI World Congress. Both programmes are also held locally by JCI Malta every year, and the winners are given the opportunity to participate internationally.
JCI is a strong voice among demands for sustainable economic development and social standards. The organisation contributes to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop leadership skills, social responsibility, fellowship and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change. Mr Cullinane, who was elected world president in November last year, said that one of JCI's current catchphrases is "We create better leaders to create better societies".
Top business experts were present at the congress to promote this change by sharing their knowledge and training facilities: Neil Holloway, the new president of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa, Claude Fussler, an international expert on CSR and sustainable development as well as an adviser to the UN Global Compact and the Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Alan Webber, the well-known journalist and founder of the American economic magazine "Fast Company", together with the well-known Kerry Gleeson, the BTI founder, all addressed the gathering.
JCI Malta is affiliated to Junior Chamber International (JCI), which is a worldwide federation of young professionals and entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40. In accordance with JCI's strategies, JCI Malta organises projects and events in four key Areas of Opportunity - Business, Individual, Community, and International Development. Training events are a key area of JCI Malta activities. In fact, JCI Malta has organized several successful training events as delivered by foreign JCI trainers.
Information on JCI Malta may be viewed at www.jci.org.mt, or contact secretary-general David Pace at david.pace@jci.org.mt.
JCI Malta is proud to be associated with Air Malta plc; HSBC Bank Malta plc; Corinthia San Gorg Hotel; KPMG Malta, Allied Newspapers Ltd (Platinum Partners).
Clayton Communications Co. Ltd; Vodafone Malta Ltd; (Gold Partners)
Jos. Vincenti & Co. Limited; AcrossLimits (Silver Partners).
Carnaby Wines; General Soft Drinks Limited, The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise (Bronze Partners).