MaltaMedia.com

Malta’s Embassy in Moscow has prioritized direct investment to Malta as one of its primary functions in its diplomatic mission in Russia. It has also worked hard throughout this year to help Maltese entrepreneurs to embark on investment missions in this country.

During the visit by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Tonio Borg in Russia a few weeks ago, emphasis was made on the need to strengthen further trade relations between Malta and Russia. There is a huge potential to increase investment from Russia, and to open new market opportunities for local entrepreneurs. This Embassy has followed up requests by Maltese entrepreneurs on various trade enquiries.

The Ambassador of Malta to Moscow Charles Inguanez, who took over at the Embassy last summer, has assisted, over a period of weeks, a number of companies that requested the Embassy’s help to enter into business ventures in Russia.

At the beginning of November 2009, this Embassy assisted the Malta Enterprise in the organization of a Maltese business delegation to Moscow. The visit took place upon the invitation of the Enterprise Europe Network office and the Russian Agency for Small and Medium Business Support.

Together with the Russian partners, the Maltese delegation representing 15 business interests participated in the International Conference “Innovation & Investment: Efficient Basis for Competitiveness of Russian SMEs on Internal and International Markets” and the Business Matchmaking Forum “Russia – Europe: SMEs – Cooperation without Frontiers”.

Apart from attending the conference and meeting with Russian companies during the 9 – 11 November, the Embassy assisted in the identification of specific partners for the Maltese companies. Apart from business and investment, the Embassy has been working hard to promote Malta as a tourist destination.

Since July 2009 the Ambassador has met various travel agencies and tour operators as well as Air Malta representatives. The Embassy will be organizing regular meetings between travel agencies, tour operators and those who have a share in this industry. The first such meeting will take place at the beginning of next year in one of the leading hotels in Moscow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened a new Consulate to serve better the end users. Although this can be seen as an ongoing process rather than an initiative, it was through the insistence of this Embassy that works were completed and the move to this new place was made within the original deadline, that is, by the end of November 2009.

As a result, the Consulate is now situated in a better place where it can offer the public an improved service, be it residence permits applications, visa applications and general consular matters. As far as promotion of Maltese culture and identity abroad is concerned, the Maltese Embassy in Moscow has been building important ties with a number of Russian artists that are interested in furthering their contacts with Maltese artists.

The Embassy has also started discussions with the state-owned Moscow City Symphonic Orchestra, which is considered to be the best in Moscow, to test the possibilities of collaborating with Malta.