EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HELGA MIZZI - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR AT MCCI
Malta is pursuing a number of strategies to attract businesses and investors from the UAE and the Gulf region. Helga Mizzi, International Relations Advisor at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, underlines the organisation’s key role in this endeavor.
«The Malta Chamber, with a history of over 175 years, is a leader of Malta’s private sector, encompassing 75% of the country’s industrial exports and 80% of employment in the private sector», Ms Mizzi states. «The size of our 2,000 members demonstrates the significance of the Chamber and the confidence that the business community has in it»
The Malta Chamber has strong relationships with key counterparts in the Gulf region. “We have a consolidated outreach with several chambers in the region – including Qatar, Kuwait and Oman- and we have an agreement with the Ministry of Economy in the UAE and the Abu Dhabi Chamber since 2014. We also have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Dubai Chamber and an MoU with UAE’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce”
The Malta Chamber also facilitates business and trade exchanges through Malta’s Embassies in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait City. This is also done through a public private partnership with ‘Trade Malta».
Ms Mizzi emphasizes multiple avenues for interaction between Maltese and Gulf companies. «Malta-based companies can engage UAE companies directly to offer products and services, and vice versa. UAE companies can leverage Malta’s position as an EU member with European standards», she says.
Further, the country’s close proximity to North Africa offers attractive opportunities for Gulf investors looking to enter the African market, using Malta as a reliable springboard through its strategic position, into these regions.
The Chamber also has established structures through which it can assist businesses in establishing connections in the Gulf. «We support business promotion; joint activities; participation in fairs; trade missions; and symposia to share best practices» Ms Mizzi explains.
“Malta’s credentials are strong and we are willing to help Gulf investors to identify and harness such opportunities,” she concludes. “We encourage UAE companies to visit Malta and discover its potential for partnerships and expansion”