Business survival in a competitive world entails businesses re-inventing themselves, Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Self-Employed said during a visit to the new Windsor Group showroom at Mosta, inaugurated recently after an investment of Lm800,000 (e1,863,498).

“A number of local enterprises have already recognised the importance of this and have made contact with foreign entrepreneurs in order to embark on joint ventures. These ventures may involve the exportation of local goods to foreign markets or the importation of foreign goods to Malta,” he added.

“Certain joint ventures can also take on both roles, with local and foreign firms working together to ensure their continued success. The Windsor Group (www.

windsormalta.com) is a perfect example of a Maltese firm that was not afraid to take risks, and these are now paying off.”

Windsor Group have now branched out into kitchens through a partnership with Italian kitchen manufacturer Le Cucine of Calabria. Anthony Galea, director, showed Mr Vassallo round the 500 square metre showroom at Independence Avenue, where they are exhibiting an extensive range of 21 modern, traditional and classical kitchens as well as a selection of children’s bedrooms.

Mr Galea said the new line of products was another step forward in their bid to offer a more complete house solution to customers, especially since they are already well known as mattress and bedroom manufacturers and suppliers. He said they chose this particular location in Mosta because they felt it was not only an important artery road leading to Mosta itself, but also because it was within easy reach of Rabat and its vicinity as well as to the north of Malta including Gozo. He added that this investment came about as a result of a partnership between Windsor and the leading Italian kitchen manufacturers based in Scalea, in the region of Calabria.

Mr Vassallo said the initiative showed how local firms could not only work with similar enterprises from abroad, but at the same time involve local workers. “Although the kitchen furniture is being imported from abroad, it is assembled locally, by a Maltese workforce. This section of Windsor Group is presently employing six employees, but will be increasing this number in the near future. This company has taken advantage of its connections abroad in order to expand its operations, and is a good example of how to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Malta’s membership in the European Union. Maltese entrepreneurs can now be on a par with their European counterparts.