Fifteen Maltese finalists at European Business Awards

Fifteen Maltese companies will be representing the country in the 2010 European Business Awards.

They are AIS Environmental Ltd, Alberta Group, Alert Communications Ltd, Content House Ltd, Crimsonwing, Diamonds International Ltd, Foster Clark Products Ltd, Hudson Holdings Ltd, Island Hotels Group Holdings plc, KPMG Malta, Methode Electronics Malta Ltd, MIDI plc, Premier Capital Ltd, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Vinci Group.

Having beaten stiff competition, they will be competing for a coveted Ruban d'Honneur in the next round of the competition. The final winners will be announced in Paris on November 16.

Now in its fourth successful year, the European Business Awards, sponsored by HSBC, identified some of Europe's brightest businesses based on their ability to demonstrate the three core principles at the heart of the awards programme: innovation, business excellence and sustainability. The European Business Awards is dedicated to raising the visibility and progress of companies that excel in delivering innovation twinned with successful commercial results while acting responsibly and positively affecting the social environment they operate in.

In 2009, the 99 Ruban d'Honneur recipients had a combined turnover exceeding €570 billion and recorded an average annual profit growth of 56 per cent.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards said it was an exceptional accolade to be picked as a country representative.

HSBC Malta CEO Alan Richards noted that all the Maltese entries were considered to be of a very high standard.

"HSBC will continue to support these types of initiatives as it encourages businesses to aim for excellence and sustainability, which are indeed core aims of the support given through our commercial banking business."