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have found Malta an ideal place to further develop their operations in response to the fast-changing global environment. Many would confirm that their human resources have proven remarkably adaptable to changing circumstances. Malta’s workforce is flexible and easy to train as a result of the country’s decades of investment in education; this efficient workforce has proven to be a vital aspect in the long-term presence of such companies on the island. Nowadays, operators in the sector focus on manufacturing of high-value products in a fully-automated context. Much of the valuable development work is being carried our in-house in order to maximise the value of operating out of a relatively sophisticated location. A large part of the automation is developed by Maltese companies that work closely with their clients in order to meet their requirements as closely as possible.
Furthermore, a cluster of companies has developed over the years that provides valuable manufacturing support, be it for short production runs of specific items, for tool-making and repair, or the manufacture of packaging systems for end products as well as quality control and sorting services. Many of these companies are spin-offs run by former employees of the client operations, ensuring they are well attuned to the stringent requirements of their customers. The long-term presence of important plastics manufacturing players has resulted in the creation of deep-rooted expertise, which includes machine setters with extensive experience in their field as well as strong synergies between industry and training academies. In fact, the latter work hand-in-hand with industry to provide the exact type of training required by the future employers of their students. Access to specialised knowhow from Germany and nearby Italy is also easy to source due to well developed links between Malta-based operations and these countries. Malta’s plastics sector also enjoys full access to all major brands of raw materials, including LG, BASF and Bayer, with local agents possessing the extensive technical expertise needed to ensure the most effective application of any raw materials supplied. Furthermore, effective logistics chains ensure that minimal stocks of raw materials are required. This ensures just-in-time servicing of clients in Europe and beyond, enabling Maltese plastics
manufacturing operations to maintain a competitive edge. There is always room for new operators to set up companies in Malta and, to this end, the country’s economic development agency, Malta Enterprise, administers an attractive package of incentives designed to add further value to the inherent advantages of a Malta-based operation. These comprise assistance during the initial information-gathering phase and organisation of fact finding visits; investment aid and access to finance to facilitate investment; as well as the allocation of industrial space.
There are a multitude of factors which collectively make Malta an ideal base for business. Chief amongst these is the afore-mentioned quality of human resources; individuals who are invariably described by investors as productive, flexible, easily trained and loyal. But there are other factors, too. The fact that English is an official language simplifies not only the provision of training, but also interactions with other stakeholders and suppliers as well as access to legislation. Malta’s highly developed communications infrastructure ensures reliable interaction with other countries, while daily flight connections to various international hubs facilitate the appropriate levels of contact between supplier and client. In addition, the transparent, fully onshore, yet remarkably competitive tax system is another important factor in attracting investors to Malta. This system is in full conformity with EU legislation and is backed up by over 60 Double Taxation Agreements, allowing for competitive tax rates and undoubtedly adding a great deal of value to any Malta-based operation. All the above factors, together with the fact that Malta can offer an excellent quality of life, make this island country an attractive base for management and their families. This small yet energetic island presents an interesting option for any investor wishing to access the various markets of the EU as well as North Africa and the Middle East from a location which offers long term peace of mind.
Further information about investing in Malta can be accessed at
www.maltaenterprise.com
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