VALLETTA, Malta, March 28, 2019/APO Group/ --

“I am proud to say that today there are a number of Maltese companies and entrepreneurs, who are actively doing business in Ghana, while others are seriously considering commencing operations,” Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela stated while addressing the Malta-Ghana Business Forum organised as part of the official State Visit by the President of the Republic of Ghana to Malta.

“What is even more appealing is that most of the business opportunities have created tangible job opportunities in both Malta and Ghana. This is how we would like to conduct business with our international partners – promoting and creating opportunities of mutual benefit.”

Minister Carmelo Abela stated that the long succession of recent initiatives that have borne witness to the longstanding ties between the Republic of Malta and the Republic of Ghana, which have grown from strength to strength since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974. Two important landmarks in this relationship were the opening of the Ghanaian High Commission in Malta in 2014, which is the first Sub-Saharan nation to do so, and the opening of the Maltese High Commission in Accra in 2018, which is serving as the first Maltese Diplomatic Mission in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“At the same time, this relationship was facilitated by the development of a framework of cooperation that has created a strong bond between our peoples. The signing, in 2014, of the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Joint Commission between Malta and Ghana, enabled the two nations to deepen bilateral relations in a multitude of diverse areas such as migration, tourism, medicines, education, candidatures and adoptions.”

Minister Carmelo Abela also pointed out that air connectivity between Malta and Ghana needs to be smoother and easier as this will surely facilitate trade opportunities between these two important regions.

Furthermore, Minister Abela also recalled his visit to Ghana in July 2017, when he accompanied the President of Malta during a State Visit. They were joined by 20 Malta-based private companies operating in various sectors that were visiting Ghana on an Exploratory Business Mission. That mission proved to be a very successful one, with several delegates returning to Ghana on numerous occasions to seek business opportunities in manufacturing, training, education, aviation, medical health, and technology.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion concluded by saying that Malta’s international business links were facilitated by the double taxation agreements that Malta concluded with over 70 countries, while Malta’s membership in the European Union continues to provide direct access to the European Single Market.

He also made reference to the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income which was signed today with Ghana during today’s state visit.

“Nevertheless, the Maltese Government is conscious of the fact that strong economic growth must be complimented by a significant and sustained investment in Malta’s infrastructure. As a result, the government has embarked on an ambitious programme to upgrade Malta’s infrastructure to meet the challenges presented by the economic success that the nation has experienced in recent years and to open new doors for investment.”

The Forum and networking event saw the attendance of over a hundred Maltese companies and institutions, and fifty incoming Ghanaian companies, and provided an opportunity for both sides to gain knowledge about mutually beneficial commercial opportunities in their respective markets and to network regarding possibilities for financing, partnerships and trade in goods and services.

Companies from the following commercial sectors were represented: ICT, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, printing, construction and real estate, tourism, logistics, financial investment and services, investment and banking, insurance, agriculture, food and beverages, environmental management, electronics, energy (oil and gas), and aviation.