The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow, during which members will be presented with the organisation's achievements over the past year and will elect a new council.

A key highlight of the AGM will be an address by Mr Fredrik Persson, President of Business Europe, who will be speaking to members immediately before proceedings officially commence.

The AGM marks the conclusion of Chris Vassallo Cesareo's tenure as Chamber President. Although no formal announcement has been made - and hence no scenario can be excluded at this stage, sources close to the Malta Chamber have indicated that having served a full two-year term, Mr Vassallo Cesareo is not expected to seek a second mandate.

If confirmed, this decision follows a pattern set by his two recent predecessors, none of whom have pursued a second term since the Chamber’s statute was amended to allow for such an extension.

Sources close to the Chamber indicated that the demands of the presidency are considerable. While the role is voluntary, it is practically full-time. Given that Chamber presidents are typically senior business executives, the position carries an opportunity cost in terms of both personal and professional commitments. "The presidency takes its toll," one source remarked.

The past two years under Mr Vassallo Cesareo’s leadership are seen as having brought stability to the Chamber following a period of radical change. While some of these changes were welcomed as positive and forward-looking, concerns have also been raised that they risk eroding certain long-standing institutional traditions.

Attention now turns to the upcoming council elections, which will then be followed by the election to produce a new Chamber President and the new Malta Chamber officials. Although no scenario can be excluded at this stage, sources suggest that two potential candidates have been sounding out current council members and influential figures within the Chamber's inner circles. One of the prospective candidates is reportedly a senior member of the current council.

Ahead of the AGM, the Chamber's CEO, Marthese Portelli, paid tribute to Mr Vassallo Cesareo’s tenure.

In a LinkedIn post this morning, she wrote: “Dear Christopher Vassallo Cesareo, as your Presidency comes to an end, we can all proudly look back at The Malta Chamber’s achievements during your term as #President – being objective, consistent, coherent and perseverant is what makes The Malta Chamber a strong voice for ethical businesses. I urge all our members to attend the AGM. We have excellent results to share with you!”