Crafts, SOLVIT & Copyright Unit
About us:
The Unit is responsible for the crafts register and undertakes initiatives to update and maintain this register. The Unit is also responsible for European Union Initiatives related to internal Market. It is also responsible for the organisation of the National Supporting Business Awards on an annual basis, as a result of which two initiativaes are nominated to represent Malta in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards.
Functions
1. Crafts
1.1 Responsible for maintaining the crafts register, for processing of applications for the registration of craftspersons and crafts entrepreneurs, for encouraging potential applicants to submit an application for registration in the crafts register, for undertaking initiatives which aim to provide to certification of crafts persons and shops selling Crafts made in Malta. Interested crafts persons can register with this office on a voluntary basis and registration is free of charge. An application can be submitted online:
www.maltacrafts.gov.mt/register-application. Should the applicant find any difficulty, the unit can assist with the filling in and submitting of the form.
2. National Supporting Business Awards
The Commerce Department in collaboration with the Policy Development and Programme Implementation Directorate within the Ministry for the Economy and Industry organises this competition with the aim of increasing awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship both on a local and on a national level.
The competition consists of two sections. Section A section is open to Government Entities such as ministries, departments, local councils, public authorities and entities and public-private partnerships. Section B is open to NGOs, trade unions, professional associations, public schools and church schools, public educational institutions, University of Malta and associations representing sectors in business and industry
A maximum of two initiatives submitted for the NSBA competition are nominated to represent Malta in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. These nominees, together with nominees for other EU Member States and the Associate Countries in the COSME Programme will compete in this prestigious competition that offers extensive exposure and media coverage to the nominated projects. For the past years, the EEPA is held as part of the SME Assembly which is organised every year in October or November in the Member State which is hosting the Council of Ministers of the EU.
3. SOLVIT
The Commerce Department acts as the Malta SOLVIT Centre. SOLVIT is a network that aims to resolve problems that citizens and businesses encounter when exercising their Internal Market rights.
Some areas in which SOLVIT can help are:
• Getting your professional qualifications recognised
• Visa & residence rights
• Trade & services (businesses)
• Vehicles & driving licences
• Family benefits
• Pension rights
• Working abroad
• Unemployment benefits
• Health insurance
• Access to education
• Cross-border movement of capital or payments
• VAT refunds.
SOLVIT cannot help:
• if your company is having problems with another company
• if you have a consumer-related problem
• if you are seeking compensation for damages
• if you take your case to court (due to its informal nature, SOLVIT cannot run in parallel with formal or legal proceedings).
To submit a case to SOLVIT:
4. Internal Market Information (IMI) System
The Commerce Department is Malta’s National IMI Coordinator (NIMIC). IMI is an online platform which helps Competent Authorities communicate with their counterparts in other EU Member States.
Apart from being easily adaptable for different legal modules, the system is also multilingual. Currently IMI has 67 administrative cooperation procedures in 17 different policy areas.
5. Contact Details:
Crafts, SOLVOT and Copyright Unit
Commerce Department
Lascaris Bastions
Daħlet Ġnien is-Sultan
Valletta VLT 1933
Emails:
Tel: 25690 329/332/350