In 2023 there will be new markets to explore – Anton Buttigieg, CEO, Trademalta

ANTON BUTTIGIEG – CEO, TRADEMALTA

Established in 2015 as a joint venture between the Government of Malta and The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, TradeMalta has become the go-to place for Malta-based exporters.

The organisation, which has a small but efficient team, provides various forms of assistance to Maltese exporters. The assistance comes in financial and non-financial form and includes support to exhibit in international trade shows, organising trade missions in new and strategic markets, support to carry out market research and international digital marketing campaigns and other related services.

As part of its remit, TradeMalta also organises country information seminars and training programmes on a frequent basis. TradeMalta also invites senior government officials from strategic markets to Malta to directly expose them to the opportunities of the Maltese economy with a view to building long-lasting partnerships with such senior executives and to lay the foundations for further commercial opportunities for Maltabased exporters.

Looking ahead at 2023, TradeMalta is confident that there will be a pick-up in economic activity for Malta-based exporters. This confidence stems from the higher demand from Malta-based companies in the last twoquarter of 2022 to attend international trade shows throughout 2023.

In addition, TradeMalta will be onboarding the largest number of companies ever to ‘Global Growth’, its flagship programme that supports Maltese exporters to visit international trade shows, organise business development meetings overseas, and carry out market research and digital marketing campaigns, as well as engaging the services of international business development partners.

On top of this TradeMalta will be organising a number of trade delegations, starting with one in Ghana in January, where it shall be leading 25 companies to further enhance Malta’s collaboration with this important WestAfrican partners. In February, TradeMalta will be setting up the Malta pavilion at Gulfood, one of the most important food fairs in the world, with the participation of 10 Malta-based food manufacturers exhibiting at the pavilion.

Further on the year TradeMalta will be organising further business delegations to new markets with a view of opening new avenues for Maltese enterprises.

Despite this optimism, TradeMalta is fully aware of the challenges faced by companies exporting from an island and the southern periphery of the European Union.

With this in mind, TradeMalta has actively involved at European level, becoming one of the founding members of Trade Promotion Europe, a non-profit association of national and regional trade and agrifood promotion organisations, whose goal is to strengthen European trade through better coordination and information sharing.

TradeMalta’s initiatives at EU level are surely bearing fruit, as CEO Anton Buttigieg has been appointed Vice President of the Association in November 2022. In his role, Mr Buttigieg will be actively working to promote further collaboration amongst European Trade Promotion Organisation and ensuring that Maltese exporters of good and services have a great voice within European institutions.

Given that TradeMalta is a joint venture between Government and the Malta Chamber, this work plan will be coordinated with both entities. TradeMalta understands the importance of having such strong shareholders backing its long-term objectives and uses “TradeMalta is confident that there will be a pick-up in economic activity for Maltabased exporters. This confidence stems from the higher demand from Malta-based companies in the last two-quarter of 2022 to attend international trade shows throughout 2023.”

this leverage to the benefit of Malta-based exporters.

In today’s complex work the executive team realises the importance of having government opening doors and facilitating international contacts at the highest level and the clout of the Malta Chamber with its wide network of international associations including Eurochambres and Business Europe and Enterprise Europe Network. n