The MBB’s 20th anniversary this year, coincides with a new look for the Business Agenda, one which reflects current local and international trends and developments giving it a wider appeal. Starting with this issue, this visual make over goes hand in hand with a content revamp further complementing our work in the areas of EU and business affairs. Upon taking a holistic approach in making these improvements, we have recently launched our new website – a powerful tool on which to better communicate our work and services and keep our audience in the know.

This issue includes an interesting article featuring comments from MEP Therese Comodini Cachia and Markus Breyer, Director General BusinessEurope, on the rather controversial reality of geo-blocking. Moreover, as Malta gears up to assume its upcoming position to chair the EU Presidency, our cover story asks Luxembourg’s and Ireland’s Ambassadors, H.E. Georges Friden and H.E. Declan Kelleher to share their views on the relevance of the presidency today and what makes a successful presidency from a small state perspective.

We have also sought to give our readers an even more harmonious balance between business and lifestyle, work and leisure. In this regard, a number of new segments have now been introduced, particularly interviews with key society members such as veteran businessman Winston Zahra Snr on his impressive career as well as psychologist Edward Curmi on the effects of workplace on businesspeople and employees at large.

Experience reminds us on the importance and inevitability of change in any organisation, company or institution – not just in terms of physical upgrades, but also in policies, attitudes, tasks and processes. For two decades, the organisation has thrived in its EU advocacy and policy work and has in recent years also begun targeting legislative lobbying in Brussels with European legislators. The MBB has also sought to become more effective by increasing efforts on the uptake of various initiatives by tapping EU funding and participating in EU programmes for the benefit of the business community at large.

By embracing change and development, in this issue we unveil a rejuvenated publication and fresh identity that aims to capture the MBB’s underlying values and vision for the now and tomorrow. This in mind we would like to you to celebrate this landmark year with us. I hope you enjoy reading through this issue!

All MBB publications including the Business Agenda may be accessed on our recently launched site www.mbb.org.mt