Opportunities for trade and investment and the advantages that Malta can offer to Australian companies wishing to expand their business by tapping in the European market were highlighted during a series of business events held in Australia.
A business lunch for entrepreneurs in Perth was hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Tonio Borg and Malta Enterprise Executive Chairman Alan Camilleri.
Mr Camilleri spoke about Malta’s strategic location and how this can be used to access nearby markets as well as its business-friendly environment with a myriad of fiscal and financial assistance offered by Malta Enterprise.
Concurrently to the business lunch, Malta Enterprise was organising a series of other events in Sydney where it is currently leading a business delegation comprising 15 local companies which operate in a wide range of sectors.
These include financial services, ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, renewable energy, high value-added manufacturing, food and beverages, as well as travel and tourism.
The business delegation’s programme kicked off with a business forum at the New South Wales Business Chamber which was attended by around 20 Australian companies operating in Sydney and its whereabouts.
These were likewise informed of the trade and investment opportunities that Malta offers by Malta Enterprise’s regional leader for Australia Jean-Claude Uhlenhaut, who is now working within the market itself to strengthen the commercial ties between Malta and Australia.
Other presentations were delivered by John Huber from the Malta Chamber for Commerce, Enterprsie and Industry and by Dr Anthony Cassar from the World Aviation Group, who gave details about his company’s experience whilst operating in Malta.
The business forum was followed by almost 40 one-to-one matchmaking meetings which brought together the Maltese and Australian entrepreneurs, who could thus explore potential cooperation such as trade, joint ventures and technology commercialisation as well as establishing fruitful contacts and leads that they would then be able to follow up for their mutual benefit.
The activities will continue on Tuesday with a networking event at the Australian Maltese Chamber of Commerce for which there has been good interest amongst the Maltese-Australian business community.
The business delegation will then move to Melbourne, where similar events are planned to take place with the support of the Maltese-Australian Business and Professional Association of Victoria and the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry.