Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1475799
8 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 AUGUST 2022 PROVISIONAL figures for reg- istered trade in goods in Malta recorded a deficit of €492.0 mil- lion during June 2022, compared to a deficit of €274.7 million in the corresponding month of 2021. Data recorded a total trade in goods deficit of €492.0 mil- lion during June, compared to a deficit of €274.7 million in the corresponding month of 2021. Imports amounted to €796.1 million, while exports totalled €304.1 million. This represents an increase of €233.9 million and €16.6 million, respectively, over the same month of the previous year. The rise in the value of imports was primarily due to Mineral fuels, lubricants and related ma- terials (€175.2 million). On the exports side, the main increases were registered in Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€32.7 million), and Miscellane- ous manufactured articles (€8.6 million), partly offset by a de- crease in Chemicals (€30.4 mil- lion). During the first six months of the year, the total trade in goods deficit widened by €619.1 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2021, reaching €1,913.4 million. Imports and exports increased by €909.0 million and €290.0 million, respectively, amounting to €3,914.7 million and €2,001.4 million. Higher imports were mainly recorded in Mineral fuels, lu- bricants and related materials (€366.1 million), Machinery and transport equipment (€262.4 million), Food (€95.8 million), Semi-manufactured goods (€66.0 million), and Chemicals (€60.8 million). On the exports side, the main increases were registered in Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (€176.6 mil- lion), Machinery and transport equipment (€45.4 million), Food (€33.6 million), and Semi-man- ufactured goods (€26.6 million). Goods were imported mainly from the European Union (54.3 per cent) and Asia (18.7 per cent). Similarly, exports were mostly directed to the Europe- an Union (35.6 per cent) and Asia (15.0 per cent). The main increase and de- crease in imports were reg- istered from Italy (€182.9 million) and the Netherlands (€20.7 million), respectively. With respect to exports, the main increase was directed to the United Kingdom (€66.9 million), whereas Italy report- ed the highest decrease (€41.5 million). In June, the deficit of trade in goods excluding specific chap- ters amounted to €163.3 mil- lion, compared to a deficit of €93.1 million recorded in the same month of 2021. Imports and exports amount- ed to €360.7 million and €197.4 million, respectively. This rep- resents a 20.0 per cent increase in imports and a 4.9 per cent decrease in exports over the corresponding month of the previous year. During the first six months of 2022, the deficit of trade in goods excluding specific chap- ters widened by €293.0 million when compared to the same period of 2021, reaching €875.1 million. Both imports and exports in- creased by 24.7 per cent and 12.3 per cent, respectively, and amounted to €2,219.7 million and €1,344.6 million. Trade in goods deficit of €492.0 million in June Technology project for Inspire Foundation thrift shops CHARITY shops do not only rely on the provision of items to be sold in order to operate but today, given their increased activity, they also need the backing of a sound technology platform to be able to handle the administrative aspects in- volved. "When last year I got to know from the local newspapers that Inspire were planning to open a warehouse to sup- port and grow the activity of their three charity shops and how they were asking for support, we reached out to them and offered to support them with our tech- nology. As such, we approached Micro- soft and other business partners who immediately pledged their collective support to this project," Philip Cortis, Founder and CEO of Micro Technology Ltd, said. This CSR project driven by Micro Tech- nology saw Microsoft Malta donate dis- counted Windows licences as well as monetary donations by PwC Malta and DataCore Software, a leading US compa- ny in data storage solutions. Kyle Anastasi, Client Technology Lead at Microsoft Malta commended Micro Technology Ltd's initiative to help Inspire strengthen the charity shop ecosystem. "After almost twenty years present in Malta, Microsoft is today not only a major player in the country's economic growth but an important and active play- er in its social fabric. This is why we do not only support our partners to grow their business but we also support them in strengthening their respective commu- nities," said Kyle Anastasi. Through the funds collected, Micro Technology Ltd who is funding 60% of this project, will supply Inspire with POS terminals with touch screen, receipt printers and barcode scanners for the warehouse and the charity shops, POS software, sales intergration with Inspire's accounting software, staff training and support on an annual basis. The project is set to help streamline op- erations at Inspire's Give & Take Thrift Shops in Marsaskala, Hamrun and Gozo, as well as their warehouse in Qormi. "The charity shops have a unique thrift culture following, and our Give & Take community is steadily growing. With growth comes the need to make the run- ning of the shops as efficient as possible, and it's with the help of reputable compa- nies such as Microsoft that we get to do this," said Giovanna Mirabile, Inspire's Chief Financial Officer as she thanked all those involved for their support.