| COUNTRY PERSPECTIVES
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MALTA |
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Business opportunities & territorial marketing |
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The installation of foreign firms is strongly encouraged by the Maltese legislation. Foreign investment made by well-established multinational corporations is the basis of the rapid expansion and modernisation of the island over the past decade. But the economy is above all dominated by small businesses. |
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Introduction |
Industry is concentrated in 10 business parks located across the archipelago. Standard factories are available on request, at highly competitive rents. Malta Entreprise is the lessor of the sites for the account of the Maltese State.
The island of Malta has strong historic bonds with Libya and the use of Malta as a mediator can be precious in this respect.
The envisaged privatisation in telecommunications, energy, the port, may enable new groups to take an interest. |
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Short term buoyant sectors |
- Pharmacy: despite a strong centralisation of purchasing for the public health service, several large pharmaceutical groups are very present in Malta operating in generics manufacturing and fine chemicals for export.
- Information technology and electronics are in the front line of sectors which could accept investors.
- Personal hygiene and cosmetics : for cosmetics, there is a very healthy competition. However, the tax free sales have until now been a very buoyant sector and the project for the creation of a maritime passenger terminal at Valletta envisages the construction of various points of sale intended to serve tourists on cruise liners making a call on Malta.
- Wines and spirits : foreign wines and spirits are increasingly appreciated, despite local wines being the most widely available. The disappearance of levies - import taxes - will facilitate the importing of European wines.
- Home decoration and tableware. In the furniture domain, the protective measures have been abandoned, and the market is open, with the demand for mid range articles in expansion.
- Second fixing building materials
- Clothing, lingerie, household linen.
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Medium term buoyant sectors |
- Fine chemistry: agri-food : Malta is self-sufficient in fresh vegetables, tomatoes, eggs poultry, rabbits and fresh dairy products. However, it is a weak position for grapes for winemaking, fresh fruit and meat of all categories. The island only produces cereals for animal foodstuffs, produces no - sugar, rice butter or milk powder.
- services, especially modern distribution
- engineering, consulting, expertise, control…
- small tools and agricultural inputs
- franchising networks.
The majority of the franchises installed on Malta have only appeared in the past few years. They are having a high level of success, as the franchise concept is appreciated today by the Maltese because of their styles of clothes offered which are worn throughout Europe and are highly fashionable.
In the clothing sector, the Maltese market is very competitive (500 clothing stores) and it is fairly difficult for a foreign manufacturer or professional to propose a new brand without running into the competition and professional experience of the Maltese in the ready to wear sector. However, opening a store in the context of a franchise would appear a good formula for setting up on Malta. In any event, it would appear to respond to a growing demand from among Maltese shopkeepers who are increasingly oriented towards European production. |
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Long term buoyant sectors |
Public works equipment: infrastructures, energy, environment.
The environment is without doubt the most interesting sector in the long term. After having considerably developed the mass tourism infrastructures, Malta would like at present to enhance its sites and improve its environment. Opportunities will appear for the creation of new water treatment stations and the development of refuse management facilities which are today insufficient whereas each summer the population of the island triples. Furthermore, the management of refuse and the treatment of sewage need to be considerably improved for the country to reach European standards in the field.
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