Micro and small enterprises form a significant part of the Maltese economy. This is also reflected in the membership composition of the Federation. Indeed, 22 per cent of FOI members are micro enterprises with another 40 per cent falling under the category of small enterprises.

The federation therefore intends to give more value to the overall FOI membership proposition to these firms. To this end, the FOI has recently set up a Micro and Small Enterprises Committee, comprising local entrepreneurs in the micro and small enterprise sector in Malta.

Chaired by FOI council member Joe Cortis, the committee is also actively working to respond to all major government consultations affecting local micro and small enterprises.

In this respect, the secretary of the committee, FOI executive Kevin Caruana, attended the launch of a new corporate strategy for the Commerce Division, the Malta Crafts Council, the Board of Co-operatives and the Small Enterprise Directorate of Malta Enterprise.

During the event representatives from each of the above entities delivered a presentation to explain the precise role and functions of their organisation. Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed and Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications, also addressed the event.

This initiative was organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Small Business and the Self Employed within the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communication.