Last year, the Malta Chamber launched the Young Chamber Network (YCN), aimed at inducting young businesspeople into its folds. In the coming months, The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry’s official publication, the Commercial Courier, will be introducing its readers to YCN members.

For the second part of this introduction, the Commercial Courier spoke with Benjamin Grech, Chief Executive Officer of Engel & Völkers Sara Grech Malta.

Benjamin Grech reveals that his induction into the business sphere happened at a very young age, having grown up in the real estate industry. But, through his studies in the architecture field, he has secured his own stand in the business: “my passion is space, buildings, and understanding more and more how beautiful spaces can positively improve our lives,” he explains.

As the current CEO of one of Malta’s largest real estate businesses, Benjamin is no stranger to the work of the Chamber. “I have been an active member of the Chamber for a while now,” he says.

Now also involved with the YCN, Benjamin believes the Chamber’s efforts to expand and include young professionals are a step in the right direction for the island’s business sector to head towards a more sustainable future. “I believe the YCN is a great steppingstone to assist young professionals seeking the right advice,” he says.

Indeed, he confirms that a lot of interest has been expressed regarding this new venture, which is not surprising considering the careful and forward-thinking structure the YCN has implemented.

The YCN offers members the option to seek advice from peers and senior members of the Chamber, an action which is not only beneficial to businesspeople on multiple levels but has also filled a long-standing gap in the scene: “mentors are so much needed in our small country,” Benjamin insists.

Moreover, the CEO believes that the YCN’s potential is endless. “I believe that putting together great minds with an honest, selfless approach can help us mould our business environment to something that is more sustainable, encouraging fair play and quality,” he says.

He is hopeful that this will come into effect soon and firmly believes in this as the direction Malta needs to grow into over the next few years.

Reflecting on the local built environment business, Benjamin shares one of the challenges the industry is currently facing.

“Property prices have increased at a much higher rate than salaries. As business owners, we have been pushed and pressurised to try to keep up with this increase without having the same increase in our revenues as compared to property prices and the likes of igaming companies,” he explains, adding that this leads to the unfair tax gap between local Maltese business and others that benefit from a preferential final withholding tax.

As such, he’d like to bring this to light with the YCN for a universally beneficial outcome. “I would like to be part of putting together a working group that better lobbies for businesses that work within the built environment,” he says.

This first appeared as part of a feature on the Young Chamber Network published in the February/March edition of the Commercial Courier.