The retailers’ association, GRTU has entered into an agreement with the Customer Service Quality Mark International Ltd for customer service certification and the teaching of topics related to customer care.

Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea said such developments helped businesses do well. Multi-million lira investments were important but these would succeed better if they gave a better service than others. And customer care was increasingly becoming essential for everyone.

CSQM International, Mr Galea said, could help businesses offer better services at lower costs by using new work practices, organisation, controls and standards which large companies have long been using. Competition was increasingly becoming stiffer but businessmen should persist in their efforts. Wherever one looked, one could see that some businessmen had sown sacrifices which in time yielded profits handsomely.

The secret, Mr Galea said, was hard work and the best possible service to consumers.