Malta-Japan Business Opportunities was the theme of a seminar organised by Bank of Valletta in collaboration with the Malta-Japan Chamber of Commerce and the Japan External Trade Organisation Milan Office. The aim of the seminar was to bring together stakeholders and business players from both countries to share their personal experiences in doing business with Japan.

Anthony Micallef, chairman of the Malta Japan Chamber of Commerce kicked off the event and provided an overview of the various MJCC activities held in 2018 and provided an outline of the initiatives planned for 2019. Kentaro Ide, the director general, Jetro Milan gave an insightful presentation on the size of the Japanese economy, third largest economy in the world and how the Jetro office in Milan can play a key role in business matchmaking between Japanese and Maltese companies.

Moderating the seminar, Mark Scicluna Bartoli, executive EU & Institutional Affairs at Bank of Valletta provided an insight to the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement that will come in force in February and used it as a platform for various entrepreneurs, in the electronics, gaming, tourism and financial services sectors, to share their personal experiences of their dealings with Japanese businesses which provided the audience with valuable insight into doing business with Japan.

André Spiteri, Ambassador of Malta to Japan underlined the importance of timing and how 2019, with the coming into force of the EU-Japan economic partnership, will be a key year in fostering a stronger business relationship between Malta and Japan.  

On a concluding note Kenneth Farrugia, chief Business Development officer at Bank of Valletta highlighted that: "As Malta's leading banking group, the internationalisation of local investment and attracting foreign direct investment features highly on our agenda. Events like these are key in sharing knowhow with Maltese enterprises assisting them to grow by leveraging on our experience and contacts."