Welcome!
Valleta, it was built by the Knights of St.John in 1566 and known as ‘the city built for gentlemen by gentlemen’
The aim of this project is to promote trade, investment and business between Malta and New Zealand via reciprocal trade delegations from the two countries – consisting of 12 to 20 businessmen/women (with support from the respective Governments) to explore opportunities for trade, investment and to achieve a greater awareness of commerce between the two countries so as to strengthen bilateral relations.
Other potential outcomes are to enhance socio-economic relations, culture, education, science and to raise the profile of Malta in New Zealand as a gateway into Europe.
New Zealand has very liberal import and inward investment policies, with very low tariffs on most goods and very few restrictions on inward investment.
Malta has a number of incentives that make investing through Malta into Europe or North Africa very attractive
Why Malta and New Zealand
Malta and New Zealand are both small independent democracies with a similar cultural heritage who enjoy warm personal and diplomatic relations. Both nations are island states, although Malta has only one-tenth the population of New Zealand and is about the same size and population as Wellington (approx 400,000) (New Zealand’s capital and second largest city) compared to New Zealand’s 4.3 million – there is a growing Maltese community in New Zealand.
There has been regular bilateral contact between the two countries over recent years, with the Prime Minister of Malta visiting New Zealand in 2002, with a reciprocal visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Hon Helen Clark in 2004. During the latter visit, the working Holiday Scheme Agreement between Malta and New Zealand was signed.
Both countries have highly literate populations and both countries have been placing an emphasis on tertiary education and training and the knowledge economy. Both countries have a growing IT literate workforce and both place an emphasis on IT services, especially Mata with the development of the Smart@City project. Malta can be seen as a gateway into the EU and as a supportive voice for New Zealand in the EU.
Why should I go and what is on offer?
This investment and Business Delegation is ideally suited to small and medium sized (SME’s) New Zealand businesses who want to make an entry into Europe or North Africa (or even the Middle East).
Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is an ideal setting for companies that strive to become the focal point of their sector. Its state-of-the-art transshipment and logistical facilities, and its modern and efficient international airport, make it easily accessible to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Known for its stable economy and pro-business government, Malta for the past four decades has been attracting foreign investors who continue to reinvest in their Maltese operations. This supportive environment, in combination with qualified, motivated and cost-effective knowledge workers, makes the island a centre of excellence and also a centre of innovative ICT.
Malta is a member of the EU, is English speaking, although most people in business also speak Italian (and some Arabic)
Malta has a major container port which has great transshipping facilities to the rest of the Mediterranean.