“We can improve our commercial activity by having better-quality businesses. However, in order to do this we need to introduce a higher level of planning to persons in business,” Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed, said during a presentation of certificates to four new cooperatives.

The cooperatives concept in Malta is 60 years old this year, but cooperatives were not out-dated and were a method of doing business that is very applicable today.

The four new cooperatives are:

The Koperattiva Gomriza Maltese Agri Products Limited, operating from Attard, and made up of 109 members. The principal activities of this cooperative are the processing and sale of agricultural products that are provided by the members of the cooperative, which is also involved in the export of these products and acquisition of other local products for export purposes.

The Koperattiva Maltese Kitchen Ltd, operating from Ta’ Xbiex, and made up of nine members. It brings together companies involved in food and beverage manufacture in Malta. The idea behind this cooperative is to benefit collectively from cheaper prices when importing raw materials. The aim is to provide efficient and viable services in Malta, including the manufacture and sale of food and beverage products locally and abroad.

The Koperattiva Rurali Manikata Ltd, of Manikata, made up of 10 members, was set-up with the aim of creating initiatives to help farmers and their families from the areas of Manikata, Ghajn Tuffieha, Ghajn Znuber, Ballut, Bajjad, Xaghra l-Hamra and Mizieb. They will also be providing training for farmers and will be selling typical local products such as wine, olive oil, preserves from locally-grown fruit, honey, syrup, organic fruit and vegetables and other local artisan products. This co-operative helps farmers collaborate on collective production projects (including the growing of olives of Maltese origin with organic methods). The cooperative will also be creating a brand name for local products and will be finding ways of marketing their products in the local and European, and international markets.

The All 4 One Cooperative Society Ltd, of Marsaxlokk, made up of six members. The aim is to provide efficient and viable services in Malta, including the provision of transport services in the Malta Freeport terminal.