Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1475206
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 AUGUST 2022 4 NEWS Malta's micro business landscape: 94% employed nine people or less KURT SANSONE THERE were almost 56,000 active busi- ness units in Malta last year with pro- visional statistics painting a landscape dominated by micro businesses employ- ing nine people or less. The National Statistics Office said on Tuesday that 94% of the 55,950 business units in 2021 employed between zero and nine people. The Business Demography statistics also show that there were 2,686 business units that employed between 10 and 49 people, while 500 units employed between 50 and 249 workers. There were only 97 units that employed more than 250 people. There was an increase of 8.6% in busi- ness units last year despite fewer new reg- istrations and a higher number of deregis- trations, when compared to the previous year. The number of new registrations within the active business population de- creased by 36% while deregistrations in- creased by 26% over 2020 Compared to the previous year, micro business units employing between 0 and 9 persons increased by 9%, while small busi- ness units employing between 10 and 49 persons, increased by 2.8%. Medium-sized business units employing between 50 and 249 persons decreased by 2.2%. The largest increase in the number of active business units, was observed in the transportation and storage sector fol- lowed by the professional, scientific and technical activities and construction. The wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector accounted for 18.1% of active business units while professional, scientific and technical activities accounted for 13.4% and construction accounted for 9.7%. In 2021, 69.6% of active business units were sole proprietors and partnerships, 28.1% limited liability companies or pub- lic limited liability companies. while 2.3% were non-profit organisations, coopera- tives, corporations, branches or joint ven- tures. There were 18,227 employers in Malta in 2021, an increase of 8.5% over the pre- vious year. Provisional statistics for 2021 released by the NSO show that micro enterprises continued to be the dominant player in Malta's business landscape THE MACE founders officially launched the fourth edition of the Malta Aviation Conference & Expo, which will be taking place on 5 and 6 October at the Hilton Malta. MACE is Malta's largest avia- tion conference. ; and its launch was attend- ed by the Hon. Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, the Hon. Dr. Aaron Farrugia. The main aim behind MACE is to create an environment of col- laboration and cooperation for aviation leaders to come togeth- er and help each other succeed, profit, and thrive as the indus- try has started flourishing again following the repercussions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. After focusing on ways through which to reboot the industry following the reper- cussions brought about by the same pandemic, this year, the theme chosen is Gaining Al- titude, as the industry aims to focus on how it can continue taking itself to new heights and expanding its horizons. Delegates will have the oppor- tunity to participate in live panel debates, meet industry suppli- ers and discuss the above-men- tioned theme with regulatory officials, industry professionals and subject matter experts. For the fourth year running, the event is being supported by Transport Malta, and will be held under the patronage of the MBAA (Malta Business Aviation Association). Speaking at the launch of MACE 2022on Tuesday, Jona- than Dalli, MACE co-vounder and The Concept Stadium CEO said: "Year upon year we make sure to keep growing and ex- panding the horizons of Malta's largest and most sought-after aviation conference. This year, through the team chosen, we are giving this conference and its in- dustry a positive tone-of-voice as we want to position MACE as an aviation think-tank and not simply a conference. For 3 con- secutive years, we have seen a growth in participants and more awareness raised about this con- ference, from 2019 to date." Diana Spanu, on behalf of DC Aviation, also a Co-Founder of MACE spoke about the four discussion verticals that MACE tackles. "We want to make our confer- ence as relevant to the industry as possible, therefore we aim to en- sure that we look at different dis- cussion verticals that will help the industry continue thriving in this ever-changing and ever-develop- ing world. During MACE 2022, we will look at the future of avia- tion, its legal and financial frame- works, its talent acquisition, and development, as well as Malta as a key aviation jurisdiction." Also present for the press con- ference were transport minister Aaron Farrugia, and Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, CEO of Transport Malta. Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, CEO for Transport Malta said that "it is an honour for Malta's Trans- port Authority to keep support- ing MACE and all it has to offer. Transport Malta strongly be- lieves that MACE is the appro- priate medium to promote Civil Aviation in line with its vision for its flourishing and dynamic Civil Aviation Directorate." MACE was founded by DC Aviation Group, The Concept Stadium and Novargo. Fourth Malta Aviation Conference & Expo launched Jonathan Dalli, MACE co-vounder and The Concept Stadium CEO