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18.07.19 7 NEWS Training project for all those involved in the local governance sector launched GOVERNMENT has launched a training project for those involved in the local governance sector, high- lighting issues like the prin- ciples of good governance, transparency and accounta- bility. The budget for this project is €200,000 and it is co-fi- nanced by the Norwegian Funding Mechanism Regime. This project is being imple- mented by the Local Govern- ment Division in collaboration with the Local Councils Associa- tion, the National Association for Executive Secretaries of Local and Regional Councils and the Norwegian Association for Local and Regional Authorities. Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government and Communities Silvio Parnis and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dia- logue Aaron Farrugia were both effu- sive about the project's aims. Parnis said that the aim of this pro- ject was to improve the skills of all those involved in the local governance sector so that they will be able to offer a better service to the communities. These skills will be improved through training for all those elected within the local council and even for the administrative staff, team building activities, study visits opportunities in Norway and even internships with several institutions in our country. He said that the first training ses- sion for the executive secretaries and the local councils administrative staff has already taken place ealrier this week. The main matters discussed were work ethics, integrity during the per- formance of duty and the necessary audits as a verification tool. Farrugia said that through this train- ing programme and exchange of best practices, the principles of govern- ance, transparency, and accountabil- ity were being given a regional and local platform following negotiations between the Maltese Government and Norway. "Our country is currently in the pro- cess of implementing new reforms and measures, including the Venice Commission recommendations. But governance, transparency, and ac- countability are spread across differ- ent levels in what we call 'multilevel governance', which begins at the Euro- pean Union level, carries on to mem- ber states, and descends to the level of regions and local councils. On the EU level, we also know that a number of initiatives and reforms are being im- plemented", he said. Farrugia said that European funds are being used to help countries reach higher standards in governance, also through the financing of such pro- jects. "Through these projects, we are en- suring that Malta continues to be an example for other countries in run- ning our local councils, while contin- uing to embrace the principles which are important for the proper function- ing of our localities and our country."" Parliamentary secretaries Aaron Farrugia (above) and (inset) Silvio Parnis TRADEMALTA has partnered with Euromonitor International to bring free global research con- tent to Malta-based companies. Euromonitor's Passport solu- tion provides data and insight on industries, economies and con- sumers worldwide, helping com- panies analyse market context and identify future trends. Around 20 local company rep- resentatives attended a training workshop organised by Trade- Malta last ursday. e work- shop was led by Hannah Forster from Euromonitor who was in- vited to introduce the Passport market research tool to local companies. Forster was also in Malta to deliver a training ses- sion to the TradeMalta team. e fi rst session was an over- view of the Euromonitor stra- tegic research content. Euro- monitor International is a world leading independent provider of strategic market research. With offi ces and analysts in over 100 countries, and market research on key trends and driv- ers, the company provides access to data and analysis on thou- sands of products and services around the world. During the second session, par- ticipants were introduced to the Passport market research data- base. For this, Forster developed a set of tangible business scenarios based on the sectors represented in the room. For each scenario she went over the diff erent mar- ket research routes that com- panies could pursue depending on the geographic markets they were targeting and the sectors they were operating in. is session helped participants learn about the many capabilities and functions of Passport, guid- ing them on how to build market context, get competitor insights and analyse future trends. e last part of the workshop was a hands-on session for par- ticipants to explore the Euro- monitor research tool. Forster was off ering advice and suggestions to those present, in- dividually guiding each of them on how to best mine the data- base to get to the information they were looking for. is seminar is co-funded through the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – Operational Programme I 2014- 2020 – 'Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges'. TradeMalta invites local com- panies to make use of this stra- tegic market research tool and other trade databases available on the agency's new Internation- alisation Knowledge Platform. Maltese exporters can access free market research through TradeMalta

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