In a continuous effort to promote and facilitate new business opportunities between international markets, Emirates, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, is extending its support to the newly set up Middle East Business Council (MEBC) within the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

MEBC aims to establish stronger commercial and business linkages between Malta and the GCC countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Middle East countries. The MEBC is establishing links with stakeholders in the region, including Chambers of Commerce, the respective Maltese diplomatic corps and Malta Enterprise regional leaders, as well as businesses with Maltese links established in the region so as to ensure that a vibrant network is sustained in Malta and in GCC states.

Emirates will be providing logistical support to the keynote speaker, Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Banna, CEO of Dubarch Architectural Engineer Interior Design Consultancy, who will be delivering the keynote speech during MEBC’s official launch ceremony. This event is being held on Thursday 10^th October at SmartCity Malta.

Dr Al Banna is a board member in the Arab Union for International Exhibitions & Conferences and a former Deputy Director General of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  An enterprising and highly networked entrepreneur, he held positions of renowned regional and international institutions such as the Dubai Quality Group, Arab Union for International Exhibition and Conferences (AUIEC), American Arbitration Association, among others. His work experience led him to venture into the engineering, construction and interior design industry and today he heads DUBARCH, a multidisciplinary engineering and interior design firm with a global presence, while he also holds the chairmanship of Technosteel.

Mr Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates Manager for Malta, said: “With the establishment of the Middle East Business Council, Emirates is anticipating that the very good business relations with the Gulf region take another qualitative leap forward. This is in line with Malta’s renewed aspirations to develop even stronger and further mutually beneficial business relations with Arab countries,”

Held at SmartCity Malta, the largest foreign direct investment in the ICT and media sectors in Malta, the ceremony includes addresses by the President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry Mr David G. Curmi; Middle East Business Council Chairman Mr Tonio Casapinta; SmartCity Malta CEO Mr Anthony Tabone and Institutional Affairs Manager at Malta Enterprise Mr Clive Brockdoff. The event will be concluded by the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Dr Chris Cardona.

“With the newly established Middle East Business Council serving as a common platform, we can look forward to creating new business prospects and commercial relations in our neighbouring regions. In this regard, Emirates airline is already providing an essential gateway to the East and a vital logistical link through its world class services and products. MEBC will raise awareness in the region about Malta, especially as a gateway to North Africa and a bridge to the EU, in order to become the natural focal point for incoming businessmen and institutions visiting from the GCC region,” said Mr Tonio Casapinta.

The inauguration ceremony is being supported by SmartCity Malta, Emirates, The Malta Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry, MaltaEnterprise, and the Consulate General of Malta-Dubai.

Further information about the Middle East Business Council of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is available at www.mebc.org.mt.