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MT 28 January 2018

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46 Events maltatoday SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018 RSM, the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms, has delivered growth in every business line, ref lecting RSM's commitment to help middle market busi- nesses fulfil their global ambi- tions. 2017 was another strong year for RSM as it saw revenues rise by 5.6% to US$5.1bn. Since 2015, the focus on building the brand has paid off as RSM is en- joying greater collaboration with increased global expansion and cross-border client work jump- ing up by 20% in 2017. Commenting on 2017 and the year ahead, Jean Stephens, CEO, RSM International said: "RSM's long-term commitment is to be the adviser of choice to middle market businesses around the world. We are responding to changing busi- ness conditions and adapting our services to help businesses meet the challenges they face, including GDPR, Brexit, NAFTA, VAT in the Gulf region, and transparency in Africa - to name just a few." "In summary, a shifting political landscape, the risk and opportu- nity from new technologies, and an unpredictable economic climate set the scene for 2018. Coming off the back of a very strong year, we look forward to forging ahead and helping our clients embrace this new digital and data-driven world." Solid international expertise Each of RSM's service lines grew in 2017, with tax advisory deliver- ing strong growth at 5.7%, fuelled mainly by clients looking to navi- gate complex international, re- gional and national tax rules and regulations. Other service line highlights in 2017 include: • Tax services grew by 4.8% and 17.0% in North America and Asia Pacific, respectively and, following a cut in the US Cor- porate tax rate, there are early signs that US/China tax com- petition will continue to drive growth into 2018. • RSM's consulting service line grew by 3.8%, with the strong- est performance in MENA with a rise of 30.0%. • Audit and accounting continues to be RSM's largest service line with a total revenue of $2.5bn. • Other services (outside of audit and accounting, tax and con- sulting) total US$110.0m and includes the recent introduc- tion of significant legal ser- vices across several RSM firms, providing comprehensive, and co-ordinated services to clients across multiple disciplines. • Strong and expanding geogra- phy. • RSM grew in each of its geo- graphical regions in 2017, with the strongest regional growth coming from Sub-Saharan Af- rica which grew 13.6% and saw a 30.0%1 increase in outbound referrals, as clients look for support with international ex- pansion and challenging exter- nal environments. Recognising this need, RSM added presence in Mozambique and Malawi in 2017. Elsewhere, RSM saw growth in: • Fee income in North America grew by 5.5% to $3.2bn, with new protectionist measures paying dividends for US-based businesses. A thriving cyber consultancy practice helped consultancy fees grow 8.1% year-on-year. RSM Canada joined the network in Decem- ber 2017, expanding RSM's capabilities and brand in the region. • Asia Pacific continues to grow steadily at 4.8%, despite eco- nomic challenges in some key markets. RSM India won a sig- nificant number of new clients following the implementation of a unified Goods and Ser- vices Tax, perhaps the largest single tax reform globally for decades. • Europe and MENA delivered solid growth at 6.0% and 8.2%, respectively. • In total RSM expanded into eight new countries in 2017 (Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique and Senegal). • Mergers and acquisitions have taken place in Germany, Neth- erlands, Northern Ireland, Po- land, Republic of Ireland, and UK, augmenting client service scale and expertise in these countries. RSM breaks through US$5bn global revenue Grand Commandery's vocation improves lives of leprosy sufferers FOR thousands of years, people with leprosy have been stigma- tised and, till this very day, in some countries they are even ban- ished from their respective com- munities. While leprosy has been eradi- cated from Malta and the subject is just mentioned once a year on World Leprosy Day (observed around the world on the last Sun- day of January), a jurisdiction of the Military and Hospitaller Or- der of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, based in Malta, made it its ongo- ing mission for the last 45 years to fund charities assisting hundreds of lepers in both India and Ugan- da. Its ongoing support has sig- nificantly improved the lives and alleviated the suffering of lepers. The members of the Grand Commandery of the Castello, based at Castello Lanzun in Men- sija, limits of San Gwann, cur- rently assist two main charitable organisations: Women in Need (W.I.N.) in India and Kagando Hospital in Uganda. Women in Need Since 2010, the Grand Com- mandery has provided regular support to, and built a long-term relationship with, the Women In Need (WIN) charity based in Nagpur, India. WIN is run by two remarkable women, Leah Pattison and Usha Patil. "We are seeing an increase in the number of sick women being abandoned on the streets," said Ms Pattison, who has left a com- fortable life in the UK to assist lep- ers in India. "In 2017, we have em- ployed more staff members to cope with the increasing demand on the charity's services. We have also developed collaborative initiatives with the local hospitals. In their free time, various consultants con- tribute time and expertise when they visit our shelter in Dattapur. However, the challenge is to main- tain all the services we offer to our leper brothers and sisters" In 2017, 18,920 women were served and/or educated through WIN. The charity regularly dis- covers abandoned women who are very sick or dying, and are offered a bed in their hospice in Wardha. This hospice for the terminally ill was funded by the Grand Com- mandery of the Castello itself. WIN collaborates with many health workers operating in differ- ent sectors of the region's health department. Over these 17 years, the charity has developed a net- work of volunteers who assist WIN in combating many areas of wom- en's health and needs. Every year, the Grand Command- ery Hospitaller Chev Paul War- ren travels to India and Uganda to monitor the progress being made. Kagando Hospital The Grand Commandery first funded a building of a house for a leprosy sufferer and his family in 2016. His mud hut, called home, was destroyed during the monsoon season. When Chev Paul Warren visited last year, he found Michael's new home to be well-built and now can withstand the rain season. While there, he visited Kagando Hospital in Western Uganda which has a leprosy department. Leprosy is still common in this part of the world, and Paul saw many sufferers, both in the hos- pital and the surrounding areas. The people are very poor and have no water or electricity. Collecting water often involves trekking for several hours. During his two visits Paul met several leprosy groups. Last year the Grand Command- ery began a partnership with Ka- gando Hospital run by the Angli- can Church of Uganda. Through the intervention of a retired Mal- tese nurse Rita Miller, who every year helps in the hospital, it was decided to build two units as ac- commodation for visiting medical staff and young graduates, who will be also trained in assisting lepers. Furthermore, the rental income from the property would go into a dedicated account for the benefit of leprosy sufferers. Over the years, Chev Paul Warren has paid regular visits to WIN in In- dia and in recent years to Kagando Hospital in Western Uganda, each time to see at firsthand how the money donated by the Grand Com- mandery was being spent. All the money raised from activities held by the Grand Commandery and any donations that are received are directly injected into these charita- ble projects, and none of this money is used for administration or for travels "We deal directly with the local charitable organisation on the ground, where we are able to visit, see and monitor the outcomes, first hand. We go straight where the need of the lepers is because with our funds we can do more for these less fortunate people." ON the 7 December 2017, Li- ons Club Mdina, as part of their yearly service to the community, organised a Christmas concert for the residents of Casa San Paolo in Bugibba. The residents were entertained by the lively singing of Mary Rose Mallia, backed by Jon Vella Zarb of The Sound System Co. Ltd, both of whom offered their services free of charge. Apart from refreshments, a small gift was given to every resi- dent, by members of Lions Club Mdina. The concert provided an enjoy- able evening for both residents and Lions Club Committee members. Elizabeth, a leprosy sufferer sitting on the ground watching her family A vacancy has arisen within the housekeeping department of CleanSource Ltd. We are looking to recruit cleaners on full-time basis. The selected candidate must be willing to work flexible hours and will be responsible for all the cleaning that is needed. The prospective candidate must have a pleasant personality, be trustworthy, self-motivated and possess excellent customer service skills. Apply on: info@cleansourcemalta.com or on 77545555 CleanSource Ltd Lions Club Mdina organise Christmas Concert

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