Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/893950
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2017 Events 46 FinanceMalta to participate in 11 different events in London in Q4 of 2017 As part of the strategy to en- hance its drive to attract more fi- nancial service operators to Mal- ta, FinanceMalta is undertaking a strong promotional initiative for the last quarter of 2017 con- sisting of the organisation's par- ticipation in 11 direct and third party events in London. These are apart from other ini- tiatives in jurisdictions such as Switzerland, Milan, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, NY, Singapore and Hong Kong. The events are aimed to sustain the growth experienced so far in the key sectors of Mal- ta's financial services industry. FinanceMalta chairman Ken- neth Farrugia said that authority intended to increase its presence in London, in line with the gov- ernment's strategy, which earlier this month appointed a high pro- file Malta-UK Business Promo- tion Taskforce to be responsible for business promotion of Malta within the UK. "Our plan covers various ini- tiatives supporting the private wealth, insurance and asset ser- vicing sectors," he said. "Other initiatives being planned will also cover subsets of the key fi- nancial sectors such as securiti- sations, pensions, protected cell insurance business, venture cap- ital and private equity business and a number of related areas of business." Farrugia said Brexit would bring about a significant change in the way business is conducted by UK operators currently ser- vicing the financial services in- dustry in the EU's internal mar- ket. "Clearly as a non-member state the UK will be unable to benefit from the pass-porting rights cur- rently enjoyed by such operators. This will create various oppor- tunities for the Maltese finan- cial services industry, as opera- tors in the UK will be looking at the possibility of the setting up of operations through a branch or a subsidiary in an EU member state, or to redomicile their busi- ness completely from the UK to another EU member state." The first London event focused on 'UCITS & AIFMD London 2017' was held on 26 and 27 Sep- tember. This will be followed by another event focusing on wealth management and family offices. On 9 and 10 October, FinanceMalta participated in a Fintech event entitled 'Lendit Europe' and a captive insurance event entitled 'European Gate- way' organised by the leading media house Captive Review. Other events include 'Malta So- lutions for pan European struc- tures' a discussion event held in conjunction with media house ClearView Media, a roundtable meeting on the opportunities in asset management, wealth man- agement and private banking or- ganised by the Financial Times, an event in collaboration with the Malta Business Network and Malta Enterprise, entitled 'Malta: European Solutions' and finally a wealth management event on family business invest- ment opportunities entitled 'Eu- ropean Family Wealth Forum' and held in conjunction with the authoritative media house Wealth Briefing. From left: Stephen Harris, Wealth Briefing, Kenneth Farrugia, Chairman Finance Malta and Chris Casapinta, Alter Domus at the Investment Strategy Summit IGaming elite dine at the MCC Over 250 people attended the Sigma iGathering networking and exclusive dinner in one of Malta most iconic's buildings - the Sacra Infermeria - now the Mediterra- nean Conference Centre. Italian born Michelin Chef was flown in especially for the occasion. Yje Sigma Igaming Summit will take place in November and marks Malta's territory as a Gaming excel- lence hub. The above picture shows Thomas Biro CEO MultiLotto, Hon Silvo Schemberi, Exante's Patrick J O Brien and Igaming Ambassador displaying one of handmade glass awards, Fredrik Rubin, Bannerflow and Jakub Polauf, Multi Lotto. Nectar installs large solar farm in latest sustainability initiative The wondrously clean solar power is now fuelling the energy needs of Nectar, whose distribu- tion network spans the length and breadth of the Maltese is- lands and brings refrigerated, frozen and dry goods to stores round-the-clock. The company has installed 1,086 photovoltaic panels on the rooftop of Nectar head office in Ta' Qali, generating 276.722 of kWp (kilowatt peak) power and reducing the company's utility bill by half. The company also installed a concealed irrigation system to ensure that the solar panels remain clean and absorb maximum solar heat. "Nectar continues to lead the way by in- vesting in cleaner and more sus- tainable operations. Whilst the solar farm diversifies our energy mix, it allows us to make a huge leap in making our operations more sustainable," said Nectar general manager Andrea Agius. Sustainability is a guiding business principal at Nectar. The company has replaced all its traditional lights with motion- sensor LEDs at its warehouse, restrooms and office corridors. Further, it has leased new ve- hicles which consume less fuel and operate with a 'stop & start' system. Plans are afoot to install en- ergy-efficient lighting on the building's facade also. Previously, an external audit by the Malta Business Bureau, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and the Malta Hotels & Restau- rants Association acknowledged Nectar's water-saving measures as "an excellent example of best practice in water conservation". Established in 1991, Nectar has one of the largest sales forces in Malta with 50 sales personnel, representing over 50 renowned brands spread over six sales di- visions. Its extensive portfolio of food, beverage and confection- ery products is widely stocked in all leading supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens, gro- ceries, pharmacies and health shops, apart from other outlets. In recent years, ISO certified Nectar won awards for equality, learning and development, per- formance orientation, technol- ogy, job satisfaction, and health and safety. Nectar's investment in the large-scale solar farm has already reduced its traditional energy footprint by at least 50% MAPFRE MSV Life to support MPO in its drive to enhance its cultural calendar Malta's leading life insurance company MAPFRE MSV Life has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, through which it will help support the orchestra's ac- tivities for the next three years. The agreement covers three of the MPO's concert seasons, which start in September and come to an end in August 2020. Through this agreement, MAP- FRE MSV Life, will support the orchestra in two key objectives. Part of the sponsorship will help the orchestra enhance its cultural calendar throughout its concert seasons, particularly by supporting the choice of inter- nationally-acclaimed soloists and conductors for its concerts. MPO Chairman, Sigmund Mifsud said that "such collaborations not only help raise the orchestra's profile, but are also crucial in helping it maintain, and increase, its level." MAPFRE MSV Life will also become a corporate patron of the MPO Educational Programme, primarily by supporting the or- chestra's annual Family Fanfare concert. The Family Fanfare concert is organised specifically with children in mind – separate performances are always held for schoolchildren, along with a per- formance for the general public – and frequently see the orchestra collaborating with the young. This year's edition of the con- cert was named Pictures at an Exhibition, and besides featur- ing an orchestral performance of Mussorgsky's famous suite by that name, the concert also fea- tured compositions by students of the Johann Strauss School of Music which were similarly in- spired by emotive scenes. Future performances will see collabo- rations with other educational entities, in an effort to continue developing the MPO's educations and outreach programme. David G. Curmi, CEO of MAPFRE MSV Life stated that "the company is committed to supporting the proliferation of culture and the arts and we are therefore very pleased to be sup- porting the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra." He praised the MPO for their excellent work and au- gured that through the MPO's Educational Progamme one would indeed identify and help recognise the potential of young talent in Malta and Gozo.