The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, together with TradeMalta, is organising an exploratory trade promotion mission to Ghana between the 25th and the 28th of the current month for Malta-based enterprises. Around 20 businesses have shown interest in travelling to Ghana to explore trade opportunities in Western Africa as part of this mission, which will coincide with a state visit by the President of Malta to that country.
Minister Abela was addressing a press conference, held at The Ministry in Valletta on Monday, 3rd July 2017, during which the first edition of the Malta International Business Awards organised by TradeMalta was launched. These awards, that will be conferred at a ceremony on the 10th of November 2017, are aimed at granting due recognition to Malta-based businesses that excel in their export and overseas expansion efforts.
“Malta-based enterprises had not been given due recognition for their endeavours to export their products or services, or when they are striving to grow their business internationally”, Abela pointed out. “These awards will, therefore, serve as an important platform to fill that lacuna.”
Abela said that these awards are also aimed at raising the visibility and enhancing the credibility of category winners, both on a national level and internationally. Undoubtedly, they will serve as an important marketing medium, as finalists will be able to use the award logo in their marketing campaigns. Besides this, the awards should also help boost category winners’ team morale and motivation. They will also be providing inspiration to novice exporters to take the plunge and seek new business opportunities beyond Malta’s shores.
“These awards enjoy the full support of the Office of the Prime Minister and of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion”, said Abela. “This support sends out a clear message—if it was necessary in the first place—to the business and entrepreneurial community that the Government is committed to help Malta-based enterprises extend their operations into international markets. This engagement is also reflected in the fact that the responsibility for trade promotion has been added to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ remit. I am committed to see that the Ministry’s and TradeMalta’s resources are restructured in a way that reflects this commitment from the Government’s side.”
The Minister commended TradeMalta, a public-private executive agency dedicated to supporting Malta-based businesses to reach international markets with their products and services. He also thanked the partner companies of the Malta International Business Awards: HSBC, which is the initiative’s corporate partner, as well as Grant Thornton and BPC.
TradeMalta Chairman David G. Curmi also addressed the press conference, saying that the Malta International Business Awards give due recognition and celebrate the success of those enterprises which, through strong leadership, serious planning, perseverance, and the commitment of human and capital resources, manage to strike deals in international markets.
Further information about the Malta International Business Awards here:www.trademalta.org/events/malta-international-business-awards-2017