The Small Businesses and Crafts Directorate is responsible for the provision of front-office service to clients who request a service from the Commerce Department. The Directorate is also responsible for the planning and organisation of activities and initiatives for the crafts sector as well for the management and operation of a number of EU initiatives.
The Business Care Unit of the Commerce Department assists entrepreneurs and self-employed persons who need to apply for a Trading Licence, register a trademark or a design or wish to patent an invention by providing basic information on the process and on the documentation required and by assisting in the filling of the relative forms.
The Directorate also organises a number of initiatives in favour of Maltese crafts. These initiatives include the “Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti”, the Annual Crafts Conference and various Artisan fairs which are organised regularly by the Directorate in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority. In other instances it facilitates events organised by other entities such as local Councils.
The Directorate is also responsible for the management of the Malta Crafts Centre in Valletta which is a showcase for Maltese crafts products created by artisans registered with the Malta Crafts Council.
The Directorate also hosts the Malta SOLVIT Centre which forms part of an EU wide network committed to resolve problems which citizens and businesses face when trying to exercise their internal Market Rights in another EU Member State.
The SBCD is also responsible for the implementation of the internal Market Information (IMI) System. IMI is a tool which facilitates exchange of information between Competent Authorities in different Member States.
The participation of Maltese projects in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards is also the responsibility of the Directorate. One or two projects are nominated to participate in the annual European competition following the organisation of a national competition known as the “National Enterprise Support Awards” (NESA). This initiative is also organised by the SBCD.
The Directorate is also responsible for the Commerce Department’s Library which has a collection of publications related to business and intellectual property.