For the third consecutive year, JCI Malta will be hosting the Business Networking Event (BNE), during which, participants will meet other business contacts. The event is organised through a concept known as “business speed dating”. The concept brings participants together for a number of five-minute, one-to-one sessions with other delegates during which they introduce themselves and specify to their counterparts what they are seeking to achieve out of the encounter. At the end of each five-minute session the participants indicate whether they can see a short-term business opportunity. The method used for running the event ensures that participants meet others which have a high possibility of creating business leads.

The past two BNE editions have generated over 1,200 one-to-one sessions, from which local companies have not only promoted their businesses, but also business deals. This year a number of distinguished patrons will not only share their experience and entrepreneurship, but also join the rest of the participants during the networking sessions.

According to Pier Luca Demajo, CEO of the Demajo Group and one of this year BNE’s patrons, “Today’s business is all about relationships. Networking is therefore fundamental to business as it is the process that allows us to create, develop and maintain strong relationships which are ultimately the core of any business.” Another BNE patron, Jonathan Camilleri Bowman, Director of 2i Ltd, pointed out that “the benefit of business networking for entrepreneurs is that it allows you to tap into a synergistic business mastermind group, where business ideas are shared and new opportunities discussed and reviewed by other members.” Mr Bowman continued by highlighting the contacts he made in last year’s BNE, including investments, new joint ventures and a business project outside the country. “All this started off in a 1-hour session at JCI Malta’s event”.

So why should the local business community take part in a Business Networking Event? In Mr Demajo’s opinion, “Proper Business networking events offer the opportunity for individuals to meet with the predefined scope of addressing opportunities, creating new ones, and developing relationships. As the scope is predefined, it makes it easier and certainly more time efficient for individuals to achieve their goals.” Claudine Cassar, Managing Director of Alert Communications another successful entrepreneur in this year’s BNE patron’s line-up retained that “whilst networking has recently become all the rage, revolutionising how we meet new people and keep in touch with those we have known for years, nothing beats meeting people face to face! Which is why the JCI Business Networking Event is an opportunity that no serious networker should miss!”

This line up of patrons for this year’s Business Networking Event also includes H.E Dr. Saad Elshlmani, Secretary to the Libyan’s People’s Bureau.

The Business Networking Event will take place on Thursday 15 May at 7.30pm at the Radisson SAS, Bay Point Resort. The fee for the event is e30 for JCI Malta Members and e 35 for Non-Members. Payments should be made by cheque payable to “JCI Malta” and sent together with the application form (available on www.jci.org.mt) to JCI Malta, Dar JCI, 54, Birbal Street, Balzan BZN 9018, by not later than Monday, 12 May 2008.

Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. For further information contact Gordon Borg, 2008 President, LoM de la Vallette via email on gordon.borg@ jci.org.mt or on 9989-7036.