Malta Enterprise organised two main international events for local companies last month.
A group of businessmen visited Warsaw in Poland and Moscow in Russia during the period 24-28 September. The primary scope of this multi-sectoral mini-trade mission was to establish a lasting business relationship with Polish and Russian counterparts.
Apart from direct selling of the products and services represented by the Maltese companies by meeting with potential agents and distributors, some of the companies were keen to establish export oriented joint venture agreements with companies in both markets. The products and services that were promoted ranged from energy management and control systems, environment protection equipment, hand painted ceramics and giftware, health food and energy drinks, soft drinks and other beverages.
A spokesman for Malta Enterprise stated that all the participating companies expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the event and the quality of the meetings that were set up.
During the same period, Malta Enterprise also participated for the first time at the international exhibition to promote the services of call centres, Call Centre Expo, in Birmingham, UK. At this event, Malta Enterprise promoted Malta as a destination for setting up call centres and as a nearshore destination for outsourcing of call centre services. Discussions were also held with the exhibition organisers so that a larger national pavilion with the participation of local service providers in this sector would be coordinated for 2008.
During the last week of August, six local manufacturers and exporters of foodstuffs were led to a trade mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai in China. The event involved business presentations and pre-arranged meetings with potential importers, agents and distributors of foodstuffs. Over 80 trade meetings were held with companies in these two cities.
During the last quarter of this year another three important business events are scheduled: seven companies in the foodstuffs sector will participate at the ANUGA Food Fair between 13-17 October in Cologne, Germany; 11 companies from the education and training services sector will participate at the ICEF international workshop in Berlin, Germany, between 4-6 November; and between 25-29 November, another 10 companies in the building materials sector will participate at the BIG 5 Show to be held in Dubai.
Dennis Vella, Head of the Internationalisation Department at Malta Enterprise stated that these events were important for SMEs to consolidate existing contacts and generate new leads by practical means, hence, an opportunity for local companies to compete internationally and win new clients.
Malta Enterprise is at present preparing the trade promotion programme for 2008 and is in the process of consultations with local companies and business institutions to include new events and markets.