Philo Meli – who is responsible for the Commonwealth Business Forum event to be held at The Hilton Malta – said that around 600-plus companies registered themselves so far to attend the forum, urging others to come forward.

Ms Meli, who is also Malta ambassador to Algeria, said that the event is an “unrivalled business networking opportunity for Maltese entrepreneurs”.

Speaking to The Malta Independent at the end of a business breakfast organised by sister paper The Malta Business Weekly, she explained that it is a unique opportunity in the sense that entrepreneurs can connect with other business people, industrialists, government leaders, and government officials hailing various countries and not just simply from the 53 Commonwealth countries.

“We are expecting the participation of 20 other non-Commonwealth countries including the US, China, Algeria, and Gulf States. We have 35 participants coming from Italy, for instance,” she said.

“This is also an opportunity for entrepreneurs from the EU to visit Malta for the Business Forum since it is closer to home.

In the next business forum will be held in Vanuatu in two year’s time – quite a long stretch to travel.

“It’s far much easier for a German businessman to come over to Malta than having to travel to Vanuatu,” Ms Meli highlighted.

The CHOHM event is to be held in Malta between 24 and 26 November.