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Total area:
Religion:
Key facts and figures
Year of EU entry: 2008
Country code:
Dial code:
Population:
Capital:
MT
00 356
417,617
Valletta
Currency: Euro
Official Languages: Maltese, English
Time: GMT + 1 hr
316 sq km
Roman Catholic
(98%)
Why Malta
Malta offers a modern transportation infrastructure, state of the art telecommunications networks and frequent air links to Europe, North Africa and Middle Eastern destinations.
Malta's strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean as well as its excellent harbours and Freeport make it an excellent manufacturing location.
The flexible and highly trained multi-lingual workforce is Malta's main asset and helps to ensure the country's competitive edge through high-quality production at costs that are highly competitive when compared to mainland Europe.
Malta has an open market economy, an excellent track record and enjoys a high standard of living at relatively moderate cost.
Key sectors
Tourism: Malta is a popular holiday destination and tourism is the nation's main source of income. The Corinthia Hotel group is the one Maltese company with large overseas investments. Their portfolio includes hotels in London, Malta, Libya and Eastern Europe.
Ports/Logistics: Over the centuries, Malta's strategic position fostered its development as an important trading post and it remains a leading centre for container and freight transshipment.
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Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector in Malta is thriving with over 200 foreign owned and some 400 locally owned companies. Products made in Malta are exported worldwide and comprise semiconductors, electronic components and sub-assemblies, pharmaceuticals and medicinal products, rubber and plastics, fabricated metal products and machinery, software, garments, food products and others.
Major imports are electrical and electronic components, machinery, mineral fuels and oils, vehicles, plastics, and food products.
Partnering opportunities with Malta
Below is a brief selection of partnership opportunities available in Malta. You can search for more opportunities on our website at www.enterpriseeuropeeast.org.uk
Ref no 20121101033 A Maltese SME with over 50 years of experience in the sheet metal industry which manufactures a wide variety of sectional hinged/automated garage doors, shutters and gates for commercial, industrial and residential purposes, in a wide range of styles, colours and materials, is offering its subcontracting services of manufacturing to international clients who require their services. It is also interested in offering to be an agent, distributor or representative of electronic accessories related to security devices such as locks/switches/barriers/receivers and transmitters, keypads/swipe card access systems, proximity readers, safety photocells and flashing lights.
Ref no 20121108016 A Maltese SME manufacturing specialised in level control instruments used in bulk solids material processing, is requesting a partner who has the expertise in heat treatment. Potential partners must guarantee following parameters: 500 degrees C/h to 1030 degrees C in vacuum, 90 minutes at 1030 degrees C in vacuum, quenching via cold nitrogen at an overpressure of 4 bar inside the oven and a lead time of less than 5 weeks. Products are
Stainless Steel 1.4571 (316Ti) and 1.4581 (316L). Ideally the partner should be ISO 9001 certified or equivalent.
Ref no 20120316004 A Maltese SME that has become a centre of excellence in the manufacturing of precision mould making and press-tool making would like to extend its services (subcontracting offer) of design, machining and polishing to other international partners. This SME is also seeking to partner up with EU companies that can supply them with mould plates/semi-finished moulds (subcontracting requested).
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Ref no 10 MT 59AE 3GLSA Medical device for prophylaxis and rehabilitation in cases of locomotion disorders. A Maltese company is offering a medical device designed for prophylaxis and rehabilitation in cases of prolonged immobilization and locomotion disorders. The device ensures mechanical stimulation of the support zones of feet by activating pose synergies and it can imitate the physical action on the on the feet during ambulation.
Ref no 10 MT 59AE 3GME Nanostructured biocides for medical applications
A Maltese company is proposing a technology for production of montmorillonite intercalled by ions of biometals. This nanomaterial, having a biocide and fungicidal activity, will be integrated in the production of cosmetics, medical textiles, medical polymers and coatings.
Public sector opportunities
Below is a selection of public sector opportunities in Malta:
Floriana: educational equipment http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:364270-2012:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0
Marsaskala: lifting and handling equipment and parts http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:364240-2012:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0
For more information on European public procurement opportunities visit our website at www.enterpriseeuropeeast.org.uk
Business etiquette & culture:
Malta has a fairly conservative business culture which is similar to the United Kingdom, a country with which it has a long historical association. When conducting business in Malta you should arrange appointments well in advance and make sure to arrive on time as punctuality is highly valued.
Women are generally treated on an equal basis as men in Maltese business, and many women are found in senior business positions.
Business dress should be smart with conservative suits and ties are acceptable for men. Women should wear suits or smart dresses.
A handshake is the normal form of business greeting in Malta and business cards are generally exchanged. Maltese business contacts should be addressed by their personal (Mr, Mrs etc..) or their professional title and their family names. Once a good business relationship is established the use of first names is common but you should wait for your Maltese contact to initiate this.
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Useful contacts
Chambers of Commerce: http://www.maltachamber.org.mt/content.aspx?id=308695
UK in Malta – British High Commission Malta: http://ukinmalta.fco.gov.uk/en/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Malta: http://www.foreign.gov.mt/
Maltese Embassy, London: http://maltese.embassy.uk.com/
SOLVIT – Overcoming Trade Barriers (EU Markets only)
Tel: 020 7215 2833 www.bis.gov.uk/EUMarketAccessUnit
This guide was prepared by the Enterprise Europe Network in the East of England. We are your local gateway to doing business in Europe. To find out more on doing business, finding partners and opportunities available in Malta contact us at enterprise.europe@eeneast.org.uk
or telephone 0845 641 9955 (Option 2)
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the European Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the information contained herein. The views in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the European Commission.
December 2012
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