Chamber to represent yachting interests
The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has emerged as the champion for the yachting industry, following a meeting of sector representatives on Tuesday.Over 30 representatives had met in November to find a way to lobby for the industry as an...
The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has emerged as the champion for the yachting industry, following a meeting of sector representatives on Tuesday.
Over 30 representatives had met in November to find a way to lobby for the industry as an economic sector. Following the meeting, which had been organized by Wilfred Sultana of the Yachting in Malta publication, he and some others approached the chamber which welcomed the idea of the industry being represented by a trade section.
"We feel that it is important for our industry to stand up and be counted so that we are consulted before decisions are taken which would affect us," Mr Sultana said.
"This is why we decided to approach an entity that was already established and which already has channels of communication to the political parties and government."
The chamber currently has a section dedicated to the shipping industry but all it would take for a new trade section to be set up is a request from 15 members. The majority of those present at the Black Pearl meeting last Tuesday indicated that they would be ready to join the chamber, with several confirming that they were already members.
John Huber, who was instrumental in approaching the chamber, said it would help to have an autonomous body which would be able to gather commercially sensitive information.
"It is important to have statistics about the economic factor of the industry and all its spillovers but I can understand that there may have been apprehension about companies giving this information to each other. The chamber is covered by the Data Protection Act and would be able to use the information with all confidentiality respected.
"Armed with this information, the trade section would be able to look out for us, whether we are importers, service providers or even on the legal and maritime side."
The director general of the chamber, Kevin Borg, who was invited to the meeting, said that it was quite probable that there were already 15 members among the current 900 who had an interest in yachting and that these could be approached to get things moving as soon as possible.
Sailing clubs and those involved in the sporting side of the industry would also be able to get involved, he reassured the audience. The chamber president is also on the board of Malta Enterprise and could represent the trade section's interests in this sphere too. The chamber also includes its section's concerns and suggestions in its annual pre-budget document.
"This is the time to take action. If we do not take up this important opportunity, it may then be too late to complain if things are done without our involvement," Mr Huber said.
Over 30 representatives had met in November to find a way to lobby for the industry as an economic sector. Following the meeting, which had been organized by Wilfred Sultana of the Yachting in Malta publication, he and some others approached the chamber which welcomed the idea of the industry being represented by a trade section.
"We feel that it is important for our industry to stand up and be counted so that we are consulted before decisions are taken which would affect us," Mr Sultana said.
"This is why we decided to approach an entity that was already established and which already has channels of communication to the political parties and government."
The chamber currently has a section dedicated to the shipping industry but all it would take for a new trade section to be set up is a request from 15 members. The majority of those present at the Black Pearl meeting last Tuesday indicated that they would be ready to join the chamber, with several confirming that they were already members.
John Huber, who was instrumental in approaching the chamber, said it would help to have an autonomous body which would be able to gather commercially sensitive information.
"It is important to have statistics about the economic factor of the industry and all its spillovers but I can understand that there may have been apprehension about companies giving this information to each other. The chamber is covered by the Data Protection Act and would be able to use the information with all confidentiality respected.
"Armed with this information, the trade section would be able to look out for us, whether we are importers, service providers or even on the legal and maritime side."
The director general of the chamber, Kevin Borg, who was invited to the meeting, said that it was quite probable that there were already 15 members among the current 900 who had an interest in yachting and that these could be approached to get things moving as soon as possible.
Sailing clubs and those involved in the sporting side of the industry would also be able to get involved, he reassured the audience. The chamber president is also on the board of Malta Enterprise and could represent the trade section's interests in this sphere too. The chamber also includes its section's concerns and suggestions in its annual pre-budget document.
"This is the time to take action. If we do not take up this important opportunity, it may then be too late to complain if things are done without our involvement," Mr Huber said.