'The Maltese Parliament of Enterprises' was held for first time in the Maltese Parliament on Wednesday, offering Malta's business leaders the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on a number of issues affecting the economy in Malta.

The event which was organised by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry in collaboration with EUROCHAMBRES allowed participating entrepreneurs to discuss themes such as skills in the modern labour market, competitiveness, sustainable development and research, development and innovation.

Opening the session on behalf of the Malta Chamber, President Frank V. Farrugia said “these themes are very close to our hearts. As people in business, we cannot emphasise enough, how important it is for Malta to get it right on these four fronts, in order to create jobs and growth for the country and our people.”

“Our event today is aimed at bringing businesses and our parliament face-to-face for one morning, so as to enhance dialogue and mutual understanding.” “This initiative provides concrete proof of a will for collaboration between our two worlds. A dialogue, that I augur will span beyond these walls and way into the future, for the benefit of our entrepreneurs, our economy and our country,” Farrugia concluded.

Taking the floor, Christopher Leitl, President of EUROCHAMBRES said that entrepreneurs in Europe should be proactive, providing appropriate answers in a world full of uncertainty, challenges and disruption.

He spoke of the important role that business people and entrepreneurs played within the social ecosystem, and the need for backing from other sectors of society in order for this role to be effective. “We are paying taxes, creating jobs, serving the countries and the people within them by doing that and we are proud of that, but we need support from Government, as well as social partners.”

Leitl said that he saw a great opportunity for the future, and a new kind of economy – the circular economy – which would not waste resources but in fact, regain them.

“We should be discussing intelligent growth not limits of growth. Some people may think of the circular economy as a threat, thinking that it will be expensive and incur losses, but it’s a great opportunity for us to be innovative, creative, find appropriate solutions, and deliver it to all parts of the world.” “What matters is not the size of the country but the ideas coming out of it” Leitl concluded.

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia introduced the session as part of the Parliament’s outreach programme, stating that the house is open to all European citizens, and encouraging citizens and civil society to participate in political discourse that transcends national borders. Apart from entrepreneurs coming from all sectors of the economy, the session was addressed by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and members of Parliament from both sides of the house.

The session was organised in collaboration with the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and EUROCHAMBRES.