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5 NEWS 2.3.2023 Convenient, efficient home chargers available when buying an electric vehicle APS Bank was one of the many banks from different parts of the world invited by BML Istisharat SAL to its golden jubilee activities held recently in Beirut, Lebanon. Founded in 1972 and with clients in 35 countries across North America, Europe, Af- rica, Middle East and Asia, BML Istisharat (BML) is a business solutions and infor- mation technology services provider focused especially on developing, marketing and supporting software applica- tions for the banking and in- surance sectors. Since 2014, it has been partnering with APS Bank as a supplier of core banking technologies and is a key player in the Bank's trans- formation journey of recent years. CEO Marcel Cassar and Chief Technology Officer Jon- athan Caruana flew to Beirut for meetings with BML Man- agement where they also had the opportunity to meet with other banking clients of BML's acclaimed universal banking system ICBS. e anniversa- ry activities culminated in a gala dinner held at the Hilton Metropolitan Palace. Left to right: Jonathan Caruana, CTO, Marcel Cassar, CEO, Raji Challita, General Manager BML, Joe Faddoul, Founder & former Chairman BML, and Walid Atmeh, Assistant Director – Banking BML APS Bank management at BML Istisharat anniversary event in Lebanon MOTORS Inc. Ltd, the official distributor of re- nowned automotive brands, including Jeep, Kia, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Iveco, Abarth and Hyundai, has entered into an agreement with HandsOn Systems, an inter- national technology company specialising in GPS tracking, usage-based insurance, RFID asset tracking and task management software. As part of this partnership, Motors Inc. Ltd clients can now purchase car EV chargers directly from Motors Inc. when ordering their new electric vehi- cle. e partnership will allow clients to enjoy the benefits of having a reliable, convenient and efficient charging solution for their electric vehicles right at their doorstep. Having an EV charger installed at home provides numerous benefits, including the convenience of charging your electric vehicle at your own leisure, re- ducing the time spent on public or normal charging, and helping to minimize the dependence on fossil fuels. e installation of an EV charger at home also adds to the overall value of your property and gives peace of mind. "is partnership between Motors Inc. Ltd and HandsOn Systems underscores our commitment to promote the use of sustainable transportation and reduce our carbon footprint," a spokesman for Motors Inc. said. "With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, this partnership is an important step towards creating a smarter, more efficient future for everyone." "We are thrilled to partner with HandsOn Systems to bring our clients a seamless, comprehensive expe- rience when it comes to charging their electric vehi- cles. We are committed to making the transition to electric vehicles as smooth and convenient as possi- ble, and this partnership is a crucial step in achieving that goal," the spokesman added. "HandsOn Systems leverages economies of scale in partnerships like that with Motors Inc. and we are confident that the EV chargers will ensure a seamless transition to electrified transportation in Malta and Gozo," a HandsOn Systems spokesman said. DURING January 2023, the industrial producer price index registered an increase of 2.30 per cent when com- pared to the corresponding month of 2022. Price increases were registered in the consumer goods (6.81 per cent) and in the capital goods (6.52 per cent). A drop of 1.37 per cent was registered in the intermediate goods. No price change occurred in the energy sector. Industrial producer prices for the domestic market in- creased by 4.66 per cent. Price rises were recorded in the intermediate goods (9.37 per cent), consumer goods (7.46 per cent) and cap- ital goods (0.55 per cent). Non-domestic prices increased by 0.79 per cent. The prices of goods destined to the euro area rose by 3.76 per cent while those destined to the non-euro area dropped by 0.71 per cent. Monthly comparison During January 2023, the industrial producer price in- dex decreased by 0.69 per cent when compared to De- cember 2022. Intermediate goods and consumer goods went down by 2.74 per cent and 0.02 per cent respectively. On the other hand, capital goods increased by 3.46 per cent. There were no price changes in the energy sector. Domestic market prices went up by 0.04 per cent due to increases of 0.55 per cent in the capital goods and 0.19 per cent in the consumer goods. On the contrary, a de- cline of 0.28 per cent was registered in the intermediate goods. Non-domestic prices decreased by 1.16 per cent. The prices of goods destined to the non-euro area dropped by 2.57 per cent while those destined to the euro area increased by 1.63 per cent. Industrial producer price indices up 2.3% in January

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