In the wholesale retail sector, there was an increase to 16,430 employees over the 15,993 in 2003.

Mr Vassallo also said that the number of people employed in the commercial sector was also on the up.

“We should now continue to focus on making sure our businesses are viable and to ensure that our economy is sustainable,” said Mr Vassallo.

Apart from the charter, those attending the meeting also discussed enterprise policy indicators in order to compare the situation in Malta to that of other European countries.