Prime Minister Robert Abela thanked The Malta Chamber and the members of the business community for their work during the COVID-19 crisis, the chamber said in a statement.

Dr Abela was addressing members of The Malta Chamber during its Annual General Meeting which was held digitally on Thursday.

The Prime Minister noted how the ideas and feedback of The Malta Chamber were key in the development of the Government’s policies during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The economic regeneration plan, ‘A Better Tomorrow’, has benefitted greatly from the proposals of The Chamber” the Prime Minister said. Referring to the scheme, whereby Malta Enterprise will afford assistance to businesses, to help them re-engineer their business plans, Dr Abela said “This scheme is inspired directly by discussions with your Council”.

“It is emblematic of the positive spirit of our business community,” he said.

The Prime Minister went on to praise the extraordinary efforts made by the business community to help sustain Malta’s society.  

“Our business community, faced by this unexpected and formidable challenge, instead of cowering and retreating, has shown incredible resilience, and ingenuity. Business leaders, did not panic, but instead quickly found ways to operate as optimally as possible, in the circumstances” Abela said.

He noted how it would have been relatively easier for businesses to close down during the crisis, and wait for the pandemic to be over. “In reality you did the exact opposite” Dr Abela told The Malta Chamber members.