5 minute read
TRADE MALTA
from Show Case Malta 2020
by Mediahut Ltd
Fresh woods and pastures new
In an interview with Showcase Dubai, TradeMalta CEO ANTON BUTTIGIEG emphasizes that Malta has precise aims for its presence in the Dubai Expo. He details not only the services which TradeMalta offers but also the return on investment which participants in the Expo are likely to expect.
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The interview with Anton Buttigieg was very much a ‘let’s do business’ affair. Clearly, He is a man with a mission, driving a team which follows the same aim: polite and courteous but focused and committed. “Malta is not new to Dubai and the Emirate is important because it is a regional hub,” explained Mr Buttigieg. Indeed, Malta already has connections in Dubai in the food and beverage sector and would like to expand its reach in professional services and manufacturing. He underlined that the Dubai Expo is an important event which will create opportunities to promote Malta and also particular companies. The Middle East is already a stomping ground for Maltese industry but there is much room for improvement and opportunity. “The main message we want to put across in the Expo is to showcase Malta’s capabilities and what we excel at,” said Mr Buttigieg, adding that this work was being carried out in strict collaboration with the Commissioner for the Expo.
‘WE OFFER VARIETY’
In spite of our small size, Mr Buttigieg observed that Malta offers a large variety of goods and services. He said that TradeMalta will promote companies which excel in specialized areas, from education to manufacture and any sector in between. The variety of goods and services, and the specializations which various industrialists have carved out for themselves in a highly competitive world market, will stand them in good stead in this Expo.
ASSISTANCE GIVEN
TradeMalta assists companies which are based in Malta. This includes companies which are Malta-based and have significant operations in Malta. “There are various sectors which are eligible for assistance through TradeMalta and we encourage them to submit applications for participation so that we can be in a better position to help them,” said Mr Buttigieg. The assistance consists of a range of initiatives. From the partial refund of expenses incurred to exhibit in trade fairs, to the organization of trade missions,
ANTON BUTTIGIEG
Mr Buttigieg said that TradeMalta tries to cover all the bases in not only encouraging and facilitating participation in events such as the Expo, but also by providing means to create contacts, holding information sessions and advising on norms and customs. For example, Mr Buttigieg added that having a regional partner is a requirement in the Middle Eastern markets, and then, there are linguistic and cultural hurdles. He noted that small things, in different cultures may take on different significance: “Formal business attire is a requirement when doing business in the Middel East, for example,” smiled Mr Buttigieg, adding that such things are not to be taken for granted. Apart from services such as the introduction between potential trade partners, TradeMalta also encourages industrialists to keep in touch: “it normally takes 18-24 months for results to show,” cautioned Mr Buttigieg, adding however, that constant follow up will bear fruit.
EXPLORATIVE MISSIONS
The trade missions carried out by TradeMalta cover a broad spectrum in an effort to enable as many sectors as possible to explore the possibilities of doing business. “We have had instances where we organized sector specific missions, but, due to the large number of micro sectors we have in our economy, we prefer to organize multi-sectorial missions,” said Mr Buttigieg. An important aspect of these missions is the work TradeMalta does in guiding the government to look at hitherto unexplored markets and open doors for the country to the possibility of trade there. “Currently we are in the process of opening diplomatic links with Ethiopia, in addition to the existing High Commission in Ghana. Now the Dubai Expo in these cases is important because Dubai provides for these companies an important regional hub,” explained Mr Buttigieg. In opening these diplomatic relations, Maltese businesspeople can be assured of safer verification methods and security for their business plans.
A SHARED JOURNEY
For TradeMalta, explained its CEO, an event such as the Dubai Expo, provides the opportunity of a journey with the various companies. This is a journey into new markets with a confidence that such trust and confidence can yield substantial added value not only to the economy, but also to the individual industrialists who participate. This ties in completely with the pro-client mentality adopted by the organization. TradeMalta is a public-private partnership between government and the Malta Chamber. Asked about success, Mr Buttigieg promptly replied “Success for TradeMalta relies on sound business principles of putting clients first.”
LIBYA
While, as Mr Buttigieg explained, Libya is a market on its own, it is an upcoming priority and an important neighbouring market. He observed that stability is setting in in the country and this is very important news for Malta. “Not only do we need to make sure that we get our foot in that market as early as possible, but we must also remember that the business links with Libya go a long way back.” He recalled the revolution in Libya which ousted Col. Ghaddafi was a blow to many Maltese who had substantial investment in that country. “For Malta, the normalization of Libya is very good news.” n
For further assistance and information kindly contact Mr Anton Buttigieg, CEO, anton.buttigieg@trademalta.org “Success for TradeMalta relies on sound business principles of putting clients first.”
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