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The services sector will shortly be encouraged by the Malta Standards Authority to become compliant with internationally recognised ISO standards to guarantee optimum work practices to customers.
This was announced this week by Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea during a visit to the operations centre of Global Group in Balzan.
Minister Galea said the MSA would be aiding and encouraging operators in the services sector to become compliant with ISO 9000 Quality Management Services to further enhance Malta’s image of a stable financial services centre of repute.
Galea was shown around the complex by Globe CEO Nicholas Portelli, who explained how the Group expanded and became a major financial services player since the merger of three companies just over two years ago.
Showing the minister around the open-plan office, Portelli spoke of the “flat” system adopted by the Group’s various operations to cut down on bureaucracy and ensure efficient delivery.
Portelli explained how investment in IT enabled the company to cut down on telephone and communication expenses. Minister Galea asked Portelli whether the company benefited from the lowering of international call tariffs and in a half-joking manner the Group’s CEO said it would help more if they went lower.
The Global Group employs around 140 highly trained individuals with graduates making up more than 80 per cent of the work force. Portelli also gave details of some of the Group’s operations: the company has around 10,000 clients with its investment wing, it processes around 200 cheques a month for interest owed to clients, the health insurance wing (BUPA) processes almost 2,000 cheques per week and the company was responsible for at least 10 per cent of registrations from the investment repatriation scheme. The Group, which has also set up shop in London aims to further expand abroad.
After a brief tour of the place Minister Galea remarked that the financial services sector was not hounded by the same issues of competitiveness that are creating turmoil in the manufacturing sector. He said that the services sector depended very much on value added and quality human resources rather than cheap labour.
Galea lauded Globe’s achievements and reiterated government’s intention to give due importance to the services sector as a major player in the economy.
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