Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516667
€1.50 THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 246 WWW.BUSINESSTODAY.COM.MT JEAN PAUL SOFIA PUBLIC INQUIRY PM tells construction sector to 'shape up, or ship out' MBB business session discusses European Commission's proposal for Late Payment Regulation MARIANNA CALLEJA DETERMINED to implement the recommen- dations from the Sofia public inquiry, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Wednesday that operators in the construction industry need to either comply and change their ways or quit their job. "First commandment: Whoever is not seri- ous in this sector must understand their pres- ence is not needed. Whoever is not serious in this work, go find a new job tomorrow," he said. PAGES 2 - 3 STAR PERFORMER MSE FTSE 100 EUR EXCHANG RATES Trading Date: 28 Feb 2024 Number of Trades: 116 Turnover: €4,748,720.39 MSE TRX Index: 8165.683 Change: +0.647% Name: 3.65% STV SEC BDS MT0001601211 - Currency € Last Traded: 28 Feb 2024 Price 99.500 Change +4.490 US Dollar 1.0522 British Pound: 0.86477 Japanese Yen: 144.59 Australian Dollar: 1.5451 Swiss Franc: 0.98700 7,613.67 78.12 7,613.39 / 7,312.00 Value Net variation High / Low +0.86% PAGE 3 RODERICK GALDES OPINION PAGE 12 Annual rate of inflation in January 2024 stood at 3.2 per cent The highest annual inflation rates in January 2024 were registered in Food (9.1 per cent) and Other goods and services (5.6 per cent). On the other hand, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered in Transport and communication (-1.6 per cent) and Clothing and footwear (-0.5 per cent). Inflation rates THE Malta Business Bureau (MBB) this week held a business session in which it presented and discussed with Maltese businesses the European Commission's proposal for a Late Payment Regulation. e proposal, which is still being negotiated at EU level, aims to update the current Directive to im- prove the on-time payment culture through more payment discipline in businesses transactions across the EU, which the Commission says would improve cashflow and potentially save businesses from insol- vency, especially SMEs. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister and implicated ministers Public needs, private solutions e intersection of public policy and the private sector Jean Paul Sofia