Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500031
2 NEWS 18.5.2023 BUSINESS First, which is run and man- aged by Malta Enterprise, has been honoured with the Quality Award at the Public Service awards, held during Pub- lic Service Week. is achievement recognises the work carried out by Business First and estab- lishes it as the premier provider among all Quality Mark holders. Business 1st is a joint venture between Malta Enterprise and the Malta Cham- ber for SMEs. It also forms part of the servizz.gov network. Led and managed by Malta Enterprise, B1st brings togeth- er number of government departments and entities that either offer a service or else regulate business activities. e aim of all the entities that have a pres- ence at B1st is to assist business start- ups and SMEs prosper and grow there- by contributing to enhancing economic activity and competitiveness. e Business First team has once again been recognised for their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional quality and efficient services to their esteemed clients. e award serves as a testament to the team's relentless pur- suit of excellence and their unwavering focus on providing top-tier services to their valued clientele. ME and Chamber of SMEs leadership congratulate B1st team Chamber of SMEs President Paul Ab- ela explained that "When the Malta Chamber of SMEs joined forces with Malta Enterprise to provide a one-stop- shop service for business we had a clear vision on what was the experience we wanted to create to give a service to the business community. Our expectations has since been surpassed thanks to the stellar dedication by all Business First staff, led by Marika Tonna". "We take immense pride in the excep- tional service that Business 1st delivers to our clientele daily. Our gratitude ex- tends deeply to our industrious team. eir hard work doesn't go unnoticed, and it's heartening to see the positive impact they're making, which is a tes- tament to a nation that cherishes its commercial community. We hold in high regard our partnership with the Chamber of SMEs. eir contribution is instrumental in fostering an environ- ment conducive to business growth and success" Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise, said. Speaking about this significant achievement, Marika Tonna, CEO at Business First, expressed heartfelt ap- preciation for the entire team's hard work and commitment: "We are so successful because our team members genuinely care about what they do and they always go the extra mile to give an excellent service. As management I believe that we do our best to lead by example while showing that we care for our team as people rather than as just employees" More information about Business First and the services they offer, is available at https://www.businessfirst.com.mt/ or through Freephone 144. Business First recognised for 'quality service' at Is-Servizz Pubbliku Awards Malta Properties AGM highlights revenue increases in 2022 Trident Estates Plc 2022 revenue more than double previous year's results TRIDENT Estates Plc has an- nounced its financial results for the year ended 31 January 2023. Group revenue amounted to €2.4 million, more than double the €1.1 million revenue generated in the previous year. Operating profit amounted to €1.3 million, up from €323,000 in the financial year ended 31 January 2022. Pre-tax profit amounted to €7.5 million as a result of a fair val- ue gain of €6.7 million on Trident House. Over the course of the year under review, Trident Park embarked on a solid path towards establishing itself as a land¬mark business park and has signed tenancy agreements amounting to a 63% occupancy rate. Furthermore, serious discus- sions with potential tenants are well advanced. Commenting in this regard, Tri- dent Estates Plc chairman Louis Farrugia stated: "It is most satisfy- ing to be able to report that we have managed to deliver a most unique project after many years of pursuing a vision that demanded difficult de- cisions and risk taking. Trident Park should not be regarded as a trading asset but rather as a long-term cap- ital investment with considerable potential for appreciation over the medium to long term. We have got off to an encouraging start in terms of attracting an impressive list of prestigious tenants – and we will seek to build on this momentum." Trident Estates Plc CEO Charles Xuereb said: "e demand for space at Trident Park has come from a wide spectrum of businesses and in- stitutions. Strong technical support was provided to incoming tenants and any initial teething problems were overcome. While switching to operational mode as new tenants populated the premises, major ef- forts were simultaneously directed at the completion of the impressive Trident Park conference facility, which included the restoration of the original Farsons Boardroom." During the current financial year ending 31 January 2024, the focus of management is revolving around the operation of the Trident Park property. e Board of Directors will be conducting a strategic re- view encompassing the next phases of the Trident Estates PLC business plan. e strategic review will also take into consideration options for Tri- dent House, one of the largest sites in the Group's property portfolio, that will be vacated by the current tenants, Quintano Foods Limited and Food Chain Limited (Farsons Group), in 2026. Trident Estates Plc will be holding its Annual General Meeting on 16 June 2023 at the Trident Park Con- ference Hall. MALTA Properties Company plc (MPC) has held its Annual General Meeting to review the Company's per- formance in 2022, a year in which revenues increased by 16 percent. During the meeting shareholders also approved a proposed net dividend of €0.013 per share. MPC Chairman, Mohamed Sharaf, said, "We firmly believe that the market is underpinned by strong fi- nancial liquidity and a resilient economy. At the same time, our Company is strongly positioned, given the quality of our tenants and the strength of our finances." e AGM was also addressed by MPC's Chief Exec- utive Officer, Mohsin Majid, and Chief Financial Of- ficer, Daniela Zammit, who delivered more detailed presentations on the Company's performance. "We have had a good year and remain optimistic about the future. In 2022, we saw a 16 percent increase in revenues and a 32 percent increase in operating profits," Majid said. "is financial performance was due to the success- ful completion of various projects. Top amongst these was the completion of our flagship property in Zejtun which we handed over to our tenant, GO plc in the last quarter of 2022. We are proud to have built this property to the highest standards." e AGM approved all resolutions presented during the meeting, including the Annual Report and Finan- cial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022, the payment of a Net Dividend of €0.013 per share, the appointment of Deloitte Audit Limited as Auditors and the Emoluments of Directors. ere was no elec- tion for the Board of Directors given that the number of nominations matched the number of places vacant. Marika Tonna, Business First CEO, receiving the Quality Award from Anthony Sultana, Principal Permanent Secretary