Malta and Japan's Business Relationship

While most of my articles are based around lifestyle choices, travels, and less important topics, one of the most-talked about important economic topics in the recent weeks has been the reduction of tariffs between Japan and Europe after a trade deal, in turn allowing the EU to have cheaper Japanese products, as well as Japan having cheaper European products.

Even though the countries' relationship has been consistent for multiple years, with this agreement officially signed, both Malta and Japan have an increased opportunity for business between the two countries - especially when it comes to importing and exporting food, beauty products, machinery and so on.

Malta is a country in Europe, surrounded by the Mediterranean sea that prides itself on its booming economy over the last couple of years, as well as its exportation of fish (tuna specifically), electrical equipment and machinery.  It has also seen an increasing amount of Japanese tourists attending English Language Schools, along with regular visitors from Japan that have a passion for the country and its culture, such as Kayoko Hayashi, a Japanese blogger and author that has recently published a book about the ins and outs of Malta for the Japanese public. Along with Japan's growing interest in Malta, last September, Malta had established the Malta-Japan Chamber of Commerce to improve the commercial exchanges between the two countries, which has now been re-enforced with the near-elimination of tariffs.

This is the perfect time for Maltese and Japanese investors and entrepreneurs to take advantage of this partner agreement and increase their success between the two sides of the planet.

The Japan-Malta Business Forum

Having Maltese citizenship myself, I was invited to attend the Japan-Malta Business Forum that took place on the 30th of July at Hotel New Otani Tokyo, Japan, allowing Maltese and Japanese companies to pursue a multi-sector business mission with the presence of an influential delegation and representatives (organized by FinanceMalta and the Japanese External Trade Organisation) to give a full presentation of what the Maltese islands have to offer to Japan with regards to trade and setting up shop in the country, along with its fantastic tax incentives (even allowing investors the opportunity of gaining citizenship in Malta through investment according to the terms and conditions associated with the Malta Individual Investor Programme (MIIP)).

Most importantly, after Shinzo Abe (Prime Minister of Japan)'s first visit to Malta last year, the Hon. Dr. Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta, has returned to Japan and joined the Business Forum as he led the delegation, giving my partner and I the opportunity to meet him and his wife, the First Lady Michelle Muscat, personally. As a conclusion to my article: I even got to share my business card with her after a request for my website!