Mr Vassallo was speaking during a dialogue between students and the business community, held at the University on 27 March, as part of a series of such meetings organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat and the Economics Department of the University of Malta. The Hon. Edwin Vassallo said that the basis of success in business is competition, and there is the need for this concept to be accepted more widely in Malta. He encouraged students to be proactive in seeking opportunities for business success.

In his introduction, Professor Briguglio, who chaired the meeting, said that there are various opportunities for business start-ups, especially in the knowledge-based enterprises, and University graduates are well-positioned to take advantage of this reality. He said that small business faces a number of constraints, including those associated with financing and lack of venture capital. However, the government, through Edwin Vassallo’s secretariat, is doing its best to encourage entrepreneurship.

Mr Brian Camilleri, who directs a company within the Mosta Technopark said that there is need for further collaboration between Industry and the University. He said that foreign investors look for an educated labour force, and the reason why his company has been successful in Malta was precisely because he managed to find employees with the right qualifications. His company also succeeded in locating a research and development unit of the German parent company in Malta.

Other speakers included student representatives, representatives from the business and financial community, and from government agencies, including Malta Enterprise, ETC, and the Government Commerce Division.

from left Professor Lino Briguglio, Head, Department of Economics, the Hon. Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed, Mr Keith Psaila, Head of Secretariat for Small Business and the Self Employed, Mr Brian Camilleri, Mosta Technopark