Entrepreneurs urged to look to Europe

Edwin Vassallo, the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed, has urged Maltese entrepreneurs to explore the opportunities available in other markets, particularly those in Europe, in view of the competition they face in the local market.

For this reason, he said, his secretariat was working to facilitate the participation of Maltese enterprises in EU programmes that provide them with training and allow them to make more contacts in Europe.

Mr Vassallo was speaking at the launch of the BOSS (Business Opportunities and Services for Small-Micro Companies) project, which is being undertaken in collaboration with the Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs (Malta). "Thanks to this project, a number of Maltese businesses from the food and drink sector will be participating in a specialised fair in Italy," he said.

This project forms part of the secretariat's effort to ensure that 300 entrepreneurs take part in EU-funded projects this year.

The BOSS project recognises that micro enterprises and sole ownerships need information and business support systems that are easy to access, understandable and relevant to the needs of their small businesses in order to grow and react successfully to economic problems and take advantage of new business opportunities.