SMEs are constantly reminded that they are the backbone of our economy, but they rarely feel they are treated as such. Numerous challenges make doing business difficult.

Instead of fostering an operational environment that encourages entrepreneurship, businesses waste their precious time with bureaucracy, struggle to find financing to make their projects materialize and cannot grow because they do not find the necessary human resources available.

GRTU - Malta Chamber of SMEs's event yesterday put SMEs at the center with a motivational conference that focused on the need to bridge the gap to overcome challenges and turn them into opportunities so that no business gets left behind.

GRTU President Paul Abela stated that "the SME Week provides an opportunity across Europe to bring light to the importance of SMEs and that it is an ideal occasion to celebrate how SMEs are the cornerstone for the success of our economy". He continued saying that "SMEs are the ones taking time and money to invest and innovate, and most of all take the plunge and risk''.

During the conference a detailed overview was given by GRTU CEO Abigail Mamo and GRTU Vice President Marcel Mizzi, of how GRTU can be of service to businesses as a platform they can use to further their goals and aspirations. Motivational speaker Nathan Farrugia encouraged businesses to be more innovative and to make the necessary changes to better cater for consumer demands and restructure in order to be more effective in today's economic and digital scenario.

Enterprises present were also given an overview of the funding opportunities that will become available in the next five years. They learned how to better utilize the opportunities available of digital marketing and in a separate workshop discussed the numerous challenges they encounter in trying to find people that are willing to work.

Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Chris Cardona said that "keeping things into perspective is essential and we must remain conscious of the competition and actively identify the challenges SMEs face as we continue to increase our presence further as we compete globally".

Minister for Competitiveness, Digital, Maritime and Services Economy Emmanuel Mallia stressed the necessity for businesses to adapt to the current digital age. "Digitalization has revolutionized the way we access information acting as the main threat to organizations or the solution they need to embrace in order to survive. It is foreseen that 75% of today's businesses would not have the same format in ten years' time," said Minister Mallia.

Both Minster Cardona and Minister Mallia commended the GRTU for organizing a conference which aimed at challenging the attending businesses' current set-ups, whilst also giving them the necessary encouragement and tools.

The event was supported by the Ministry for Economy, Investment and Small Business, the Ministry for Competitiveness, Digital, Maritime and Services Economy, the Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency and EU Funds, JobsPlus, Malta Enterprise and the Malta Communications Authority.