Development of SME Franchise Industry in Malta

The Commonwealth Secretariat through its Special Advisory Services Division (SASD) wishes to engage a consulting firm or a team of consultants to implement a project entitled: Development of SME Franchise Industry in Malta. The objective of the project is to support the development of a local SME franchise industry in Malta with potential to internationalise and export the brand abroad. The beneficiary, MaltaEnterprise, is a Government agency responsible for the promotion of foreign investment and industrial development in Malta. Its mission is to sustain Malta’s overall competitiveness to create the right environment for successful enterprise in Malta. The consultants will work with SASD on a short-term basis to assist MaltaEnterprise to enhance its own capacity as well as that of SMEs to develop local franchises and subsequently internationalise them.

Several franchise operations have been established in Malta, especially, though not exclusively, in the food and catering (e.g. KFC, McDonalds and Burger king), fashion clothing and other services. At the current stage of the country’s economic development, most franchises contracted in Malta are international or cross-border franchise arrangements entered into between foreign franchisors and local entrepreneurs as franchisees. Whilst there are still very few local SMEs that have developed and become franchisors or hold a master franchise licence, there is an opportunity and potential for local brand names operating on a franchise formula within Malta and beyond especially on account of Malta’s accession to full membership of the European Union. MaltaEnterprise believes that great opportunity exists in development of local franchise businesses. The aim therefore is to enhance capacity of MaltaEnterprise and business development service providers to enable them promote and support the development of SME franchise industry.

Contact for Applications: Mrs. Puja D Sharma, (p.sharma@commonwealth.int), Phone: +44-207-747-6531