FinanceMalta is organising two major events in London this September that will once again bring Malta’s financial and legal services expertise into focus for the City’s hedge fund management and legal communities with the prospect of building future business opportunities together.

Good reasons for these opportunities are supported by the latest official figures issued on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). FDI grew sharply last year, fuelled by the financial services industry. In fact, FDI flows in Malta from the rest of the world amounted to €792.1 million during 2010, an increase of €250.6 million over 2009. As in previous years, enterprises involved in financial intermediation were the largest contributors of FDI flows in Malta, accounting for 84.5 per cent in 2010, while the same sector accounted for 76.6 per cent in 2009.

In the first of these two events, FinanceMalta will team up with the UK-based magazine HFM Week to hold a breakfast briefing in London on 27th September. This networking event is aimed at bringing together the growing reputation and potential growth opportunities that Malta’s financial services represent and London’s hedge fund managers, fund of hedge fund managers and other service providers. Kenneth Farrugia, chairman of FinanceMalta will be one of the panellists discussing fund re-domiciliation and conversion to UCITS. The HFM event is the ideal place for Malta’s financial service providers to network with London’s fund management community and a good opportunity to hear and discuss current affairs affecting the industry and the business opportunities that arise for Malta as a result.

The following day, FinanceMalta is co-organising a showcase event entitled “Doing Business in/with Malta”. It is a breakfast briefing and networking session that will be held, in conjunction with the Malta Chamber of Advocates and the Law Society of England and Wales, at the Law Society’s Halls in Chancery Lane, London. Speakers will include Joseph Zammit Tabona, Malta’s High Commissioner, Bernice Buttigieg of FinanceMalta, Reuben Balzan, president of the Malta Chamber of Advocates and Ramona Piscopo, Tax Partner at PiscoPartners.

This is a unique opportunity for Malta’s financial services providers to build business relations with law firms and lawyers based in London. These companies and decision-makers will hear about business opportunities in Malta, the country’s legal and regulatory framework, and the successful development of its financial services industry based on the fact that Malta offers and delivers excellent communications, good governance and an efficient fiscal environment.