The first annual SME Malta Summit & B2B Networking Forum, being held at the Hilton Malta on 28th November, 2014, will be attracting participants from a wide variety of industries ranging from Financial Services, Business Services to Retail to Hospitality, to ICT, as well as Manufacturing and Construction. More than half of the attendees are senior directors, CEOs, business owners and DMUs from SMEs in Malta.
A broad mix of high profile keynote speakers from different walks of the business community, including technology vendors, SME business owners and senior executives will be attending during the summit.
ICT companies, exhibitors and sponsors will be on hand to provide advice for SMEs to find the most viable technology solutions for their needs. Exhibitors at the event will include a microcosm of the Maltese SME landscape.
Participants at the summit will be informed about the latest the economic situation, workforce issues and operational matters.
Business owners from several leading SME organisations in Malta, will be invited to take centre stage as speakers during the morning conference sessions and afternoon workshops designed as a crucial resource for senior business management and professionals working in small to mid-size businesses.
From utilising the cloud in your business to building a plan to protect your business data, and from contract negotiation, talent retention to managing your supply chain, the conference is joined by experts who can provides comprehensive business, financial (SME funding), innovation and technology advice on the next steps an SME should take to strengthen and build their infrastructure and resources, and position themselves for growth over the next few years.
This event hopes to establish also a Board or Commission which aims wholeheartedly to assist SMEs, with a special focus on micro enterprises, dedicated to providing assistance in challenges faced during start-up formation, improving access to funding, trade queries and business opportunities, reviewing incoming EU legislation, and which will also actively participating in the Inter-Ministerial Family Business Act Committee which has been entrusted with the drafting of legislative documents.
EU funding opportunities for SMEs was also an important subject being tackled during this summit, with expert speakers analysing the specific aspects of EU legislation.
PROGRAMME
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TIME
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Details
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08:30
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Registration & Welcome Coffee
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09:10
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Speech and address by the Hon Minister for Finance the Hon Prof Edward Scicluna
SME, The Public Sector and Government Funding
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09:20
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Welcome Address by Conference Main Sponsor
Eileen V. Muscat, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Stock Exchange
A new source of capital for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Currently, Maltese SMEs seeking capital can do so through the traditional method of borrowing from their bank, or by listing on the Malta Stock Exchange. Many Maltese SMEs do not fit the current listing criteria and therefore they miss out on growth opportunities especially if bank or alternative sources of finance are not available for one reason or another. For some Companies this can even mean a dead end.
The Exchange will be launching a new and exciting Growth Market Segment allowing SMEs access to the capital markets under a cost-effective disclosure based structure which can significantly boost a company's profile. Companies will be able to raise equity or debt capital provided they disclose the appropriate levels of information. Start-ups with no track record can even raise capital on the market. The Growth Market will unlock significant value for SMEs lowering their cost of capital.
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09:40
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Presentation 'Enterprise across Europe' by Bruno Lecuyer, Business Development Manager, Finance Malta
Discussing the Small Business Act and EU SME rights, passporting rights, investment services
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09:45
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Presentation
Michael Grech, President of Gozo Business Chamber, and also Managing Director of Brokerage Finance
Mr Grech, will give a presentation on the various challenges that Gozo SMEs face, including double port/fios charges, double transportation, bureaucracy, financing, etc.
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10:00
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Networking Morning Coffee Break
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Ing James Foden, Deputy Director R&I Programme Unit,
Malta Council for Science and Technology
Technology as a Tool for Growth & Productivity - Experiences of participating in an R&D funded programme - Funding options MCST offers to SME's, the importance of R&I and a couple of short case studies/examples to highlight SME success
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10:55
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Special Guest Visit and address by the Hon Minister for the Economy, ICT, Investments & Small Business The Hon Dr Chris Cardona
Economic Regeneration and How SMEs Can Benefit from the EU, including sourcing of skilled employees; Access to finance (Banks, capital markets) & EU Funding
Panel Discussion with the Hon Minister Dr Chris Cardona: Is the Pursuit of SME Growth Sustainable?
Have SMEs in Malta reached the peak of the growth curve? Can we push
ourselves higher and further, and at what cost? Panelists share their views and discuss the landscape and factors that make for sustainable business growth in today's global connected marketplace. How can manufacturing SMEs prompt retailers to promote
their sustainable products?
Moderator: Cliff Pace
Panelists: Dr Chris Cardona, Minister Minister for the Economy, ICT, Investments & Small Business, Eileen V Muscat, CEO Malta Stock Exchange, Dr. Gordon Cordina - Board of Governors, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA), Mario Spiteri, President of Malta Business Bureau, George Mangion, Managing Director PKF Malta, Mr Philip Fenech, President GRTU, and Piers Allen, Editor The Malta Independent, Michael Grech, President of Gozo Business Chamber, and also Managing Director of Brokerage Finance
Invitees include: KPMG; Deloitte & Touche; Paragon Europe; KSI; MISCO; Comptroller of Customs
Special Guest VIP Speakers: MIT Enterprise Forum - The MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) is a global organisation of dedicated professionals with local chapters, affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through MIT Technology Review. We are open to all participants of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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11:30
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Making the Choice: Outsource, Managed Services or Cloud
Claudine Cassar, Alert Group
Whether it's IT, HR or accounting - SMEs need to decide what to do if it's not a core competency within its internal resources. What's the difference among these strategies, and in what situations do they work best for an SME? How do we improve organisational performance and SEM integration with the community?
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11:30
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Presentation by Keynote Speaker Anamaria Magri Pantea, Chief Officer External Relations, Malta Communications Authority
Advancing eCommerce and Innovation in Communications in Malta,
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12:00
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Networking Lunch by pre-booking
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13:30
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Workshop 1: Optimising SME Potential in a Connected World
SMEs always need to find ways to differentiate themselves, and more effective communication is a great place to start. This presentation demonstrates how Creating new products - innovativity, creativity, branding can be a differentiator for SMEs. Key technology trends that can help SMEs level the playing field against larger competitors, improve service and productivity, or better manage human capital. Whether it's IT, HR or accounting - SMEs need to decide what to do if it's not a core competency within its internal resources. What's the difference among these strategies, and in what situations do they work best for an SME?
Workshop Leader & Speaker/s: Honorary Professor Louis Naudi, who spent over 30 years of his business life working in SMEs in the UK, together with the collaboration of Dr Michelle Gialanze, who has been instrumental in the recent setting up of MCAST's Entrepreneurship Centre
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13:30
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Workshop 2: The Entrepreneurial Journey - Probability of Success and How to
Avoid Pitfalls in Start-ups and Financing Challenges
How important is trust among entrepreneurs, management, staff, customers and the supply chain? Do things like business ethics, people-centric employment policies, corporate social responsibility and other such intangible stuff matter to SMEs both now and for the future? Panelists discuss the impact of such intangibles and share their experiences - positive and negative. Speakers will deal also on funding issues.
Ø Including Panel Discussion: Building a Better Business for the Future
Finding new markets - Malta Enterprise - Business First
Ø EU / institutional support for the above (Meusac, Government, EIB, etc.)
Also invited the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry's SME and Family Business Committee
Workshop Leader & Speaker: Werner E Jung, Flexible-Factory Institute, Germany
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15:00
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Closing Remarks by Chairman
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The European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) co-financed by CIP during the period 2009-2012 was instrumental in promoting cluster management as a key element of the EU strategy aimed to develop more world-class clusters in the EU. In the new programming period 2014-2020, COSME will pursue these efforts on cluster excellence and a number of new Calls for proposals will be launched to provide more opportunities to European cluster organisations to benefit from the ECEI results on cluster benchmarking and cluster manager trainings. The objective of this event will also be to debate on the next EU agenda on cluster excellence and in particular which additional activities might be worth to explore and implement under COSME both at policy and operational level. How can SME investments in sustainability drive concrete financial results?
This event has been designed for people interested in starting new businesses or growing their existing businesses. Participants will gain rich insights, market intelligence and practical advice on how to optimise resources to build their businesses.
Key Topics to be covered include:
- Cash-flow Management
- New Business Development
- People/Employee Management
- Accessing Finance for Start-up and Expansion
- Leveraging Social Media Platforms for business growth
- Competitive Intelligence
- Developing Strategic Action Plans for your Small Businesses
By the end of the event, participants will sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and gain a fresh outlook on how to build competitive advantage in the market place. Participants will also gain from networking through the experiences of other entrepreneurs who will be in attendance.
Who will attend?
Owners, Decision Makers, Chairman, Managing Directors, Executive Directors and General Managers of Small and Medium Sized companies, corporate finance organisations and institutions, banks, EU funding and consultation companies, travel and hospitality, business professionals, etc.
For further information and exhibiting/sponsor packages please contact Margaret Brincat on 9940 6743 - [email protected]