Situated in the capital of one of the fastest growing and emerging economic powerhouses, the High Commission of Malta in India has recently been raising awareness and interest in Malta through a number of promotional activities and initiatives.
Although its presence in India is still young, there are encouraging signs of economic and commercial development between the two countries.
In fact, during the period between 2010 and 2011, total exports from Malta to India grew from €7.4 million to €12.4 million. While in nominal terms this figure remains rather low, it is significant in that it constitutes a 67 per cent increase over the 2010 figure.
Apart from the increase in trade, the star investment in India with a Maltese link remains the setting up of a joint venture in 2011 between FIMBank Malta and Punjab National Bank.
The venture, a historic first for Malta in India, has placed Malta as a reliable provider of innovative financial services.
India is a huge country with a population of 1.2 billion. It is characterized by sharp contrasts and by a diversity of peoples, languages, religions and cultures. It is also a fast emerging economy with enormous potential and cornucopia of possibilities for Malta and Maltese businesses.
Commercial activities on the increase
The High Commission engages in commercial diplomacy through interaction with the principal chambers of commerce in India, as well as by holding regular high-level meetings with Indian corporate houses.
It has focused particularly on the pharmaceutical sector in order to promote the benefits and opportunities that Malta offers as a gateway to the European and North African markets.
In order to showcase the comprehensive and regulatory support that Malta could provide to Indian pharmaceutical companies, a seminar, with the participation of professional experts from the Malta Medicines Authority, is to be held later on this year.
The seminar will treat the legal and regulatory aspects of the industry. In addition, an article about the pharmaceutical sector in Malta is to be published in the Pharma Review. This is earmarked for the pharmaceutical sector in India and its immediate neighbourhood.
For the first time this year, Malta will be participating in the IT fair, IndiaSoft, which is to be held in Hyderabad between 21 and 23 March.
This exclusive fair is expected to help Maltese IT companies to establish contact and strategic tie-ups with Indian counterparts.
In addition, the High Commission has been promoting Malta as a film-shooting destination. Meetings have been held with the Film & Television Producers Guild as well as with members of the industry. In order to promote local indigenous film making, the High Commission is participating in the EU Film Festival 2012 with the Maltese film “Kont Diġa”, which is to be screened in eight satellite cities across India.
Educational exchanges
To encourage the mobility and exchange of students and faculty members between Malta and India, the High Commission, in collaboration with the University of Malta has organised a number of workshops, training sessions for teachers and interactive sessions with the High Commissioner.
These endeavours have resulted in two Heads of School delegations from India to Malta in 2010 and in 2011, while the first Indian student delegation to Malta, comprising 26 students and teachers from seven premier schools in India, are to come in April. In addition, a number of Indian students are currently reading Master Degrees at the University of Malta while another Indian student is pursuing her doctoral studies here under the Erasmus-Mundus Programme.
In return, in February, a delegation from the University of Malta visited India to explore avenues of collaboration with a number of educational and research institutions in Bangalore, India’s Silicone Valley, in the areas of science, information and communication technology and engineering.
Consular support for a vibrant Maltese community and visa assistance
Consular and visa assistance is another important aspect of the work carried out by the High Commission of Malta in New Delhi. The High Commission has established contact with members of the Maltese community in India, which albeit small in number and widely dispersed, is a vibrant one. Consular assistance was also provided to Maltese nationals who encountered difficulties when visiting India as well as the issuance of biometric passports. In addition, the High Commission facilitated travel formalities for Indian nationals who were visiting Malta for tourism, business, and participation in conferences and for work purposes. It has also strengthened its consular network across India through the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Kolkata. The Honorary Consulate in Kolkata is expected to be opened this year.
Political relations
Malta and India have always had excellent relations. These relations have been further strengthened through the presence of Malta on Indian soil. Relations will continue to be nurtured through high-level meetings between the two sides as well as through people-to-people contacts, which will continue to foster better cooperation and mutual understanding. Relations are also to be strengthened through the signing of the double taxation agreement later on this year, while talks are underway to explore the possibility of a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic passports. The latter will facilitate the mobility of professionals between Malta and India.