Biography

Born in Rabat in 1944, Vince Farrugia was, last December, honoured by the President of Malta with the Medalja Ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika, Malta's National award for distinguished service to the country. He is married to Marie nèe Camilleri and they have two children.

He studied economics, industrial relations and business management graduating at the University of Malta and the Institute of Social Studies. Vince Farrugia is a graduate of economics with specialisation in Labour Economics and Business Administration graduating from The Hague, Netherlands, and at Manchester Business School, UK.

He has vast experience as a Lecturer and Business Development Consultant. He participated in all EU pre-accession consultations on all negotiated EU Acquis Communautaire Chapters with an impact on business and enterprise.

Heavily involved in the drafting and implementation of policies as part of Malta's post-EU Accession Strategy, he is an experienced lobbyist at national and European level and a highly respected Conference and Seminar speaker on topics related to Business Development, enterprise and EU policies and directives effecting small businesses.

He also acted as a business manager and member of the board of directors of leading commercial, financial and industrial enterprises. He has also occupied senior public sector posts as General Manager Malta Development Corporation and Chairman and Chief Executive Malta National Tourism Organisation. Vince Farrugia was Director of Mid Med Bank and Bank of Valletta. He has served on the Board of Directors of Maltacom Group, Go Mobile and Datatrack plc, Mediterranean Film Studios and companies in the engineering and commercial centre.

For the last 15 years he has directed GRTU, Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises as Director General. In this capacity he has represented GRTU in all fora and institutions in Malta and abroad were the representation of Maltese Small and Medium Enterprises and the commercial sector in general was requested. In his capacity as Director General Vince Farrugia has successfully placed issues concerning small businesses and enterprises in general consistently on the nation's agenda.

At European level he is a member of the Board of Administration of EuroCommerce, the European Federation of National Organisations representing Retail and Trade, and UEAPME, the European Federation of National Bodies representing SMEs and Craft Enterprisers. Vince Farrugia is Vice-President of CONFIAD Pan European Network representing customs agents and haulers as well as a member of the Social Fund Committee.

He is recognized at EuroCommerce, UEAPME, European Economic and Social Committee, D.G. Enterprise and other EU level institutions as a highly prepared and capable representative of European Small and Medium Enterprises. Vince Farrugia is also a frequent participant in formal dialogue sessions with the European Commission, especially with DG Enterprise, on issues concerning business and SMEs.

Currently at national level Vince Farrugia represents GRTU on Malta EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC), Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD,) the National Employment and Industrial Relations Board, the Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), Malta Enterprise, the NSO RPI Management Board and the Malta National Qualifications Council.