Helping businesses grow

One ministry that is carrying out some very important work is undoubtedly the Ministry for Fair Competition, Small Businesses and Consumers. With the number of SMEs in Malta being well over 95 per cent of the whole economy, the setting up of this ministry was indispensable to give these entrepreneurs the assistance they require.

… the government is committed to empower citizens…- David Casa

The European Union also gives this sector a great deal of importance and has recognised the necessity to address issues that hinder small business. Indeed, they form the spine of an economy, making it vital to ensure that their growth and development are not restricted by unnecessary bureaucracy and legalities.

The three main areas that fall under the competence of this ministry are interlinked and have the well-being of the citizen as their goal.

While encouraging the growth of our businesses, the ministry also aims to enhance the welfare of the consumer by ensuring that each and every one of us gets what s/he is paying for. Furthermore, it ensures that customers are given the correct information when they buy a product or a service.

This subject has been the topic of much controversy throughout the years and it was high time that someone addressed it in a firm but fair manner keeping in mind the right of businesses to transact freely and with as few restrictions as possible.

With this in mind, the ministry is also promoting the Europa Diary within our schools in order to communicate important information to young people, which information will help them in the future. This exercise has proved to be a success in more than 30,000 schools across Europe and more teachers are using it as an integrated tool in their teaching.

The ministry is also committed to harmonise the licensing and registration systems of shops and businesses which, until a few years ago, was archaic and discriminatory and which many a time gave unfair advantage to same genre businesses even in the same street.

Many shops have already benefited from reductions of their licences and this exercise will go on until all registrations are regulated. This is another important step to reduce the administrative burdens on shop owners and small business owners as much as possible. This, together with the promise of more efficiency in the issuing of licences, will help our businessmen focus more on their businesses.

Businesses that do not involve public or health considerations will now only have to notify the department within 30 days of the commencement of operation instead of going through the application process as before.

These important steps are all part of the government’s vision that promotes transparency and efficiency through the constant reduction of unnecessary fees and time wasting.

The consultation process that started last Friday is expected to last for six weeks and the 18,000 or so SMEs registered with the Trade Department will be free to send their opinions, positions and remarks. Meetings with the relevant unions and associations have already been held and the final result should undoubtedly embrace the common views of all those concerned.

Another important and bold step that the ministry has undertaken was that of removing the possibility of licence holders transferring their licences to third parties. For a long time, these transfers have been the centre of much abuse and illicit transactions. Now, with the removal of any restrictions on the issuing of licences, the illegal trading of these licences, sometimes at astronomic prices, has been curbed.

The ministry, under the guidance of my dynamic colleague Jason Azzopardi, is certainly taking no detours in implementing the slogan which it adopted: Reduction of bureaucracy, more breathing space to our businesses. As in all the other sectors, the government is committed to empower citizens and make the right tools available for those who want to grow because, ultimately, the growth of our businesses will reflect in the growth of our country.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.