Malta Enterprise has launched the 2012 Calendar of Internationalisation events to help local enterprises in their growth strategy and their expansion in foreign markets.
Amongst others, events include business delegations and specialised fairs not only Malta's traditional markets for business, such as Italy, Germany and the UK, but also other relatively new markets that have been registering consistent growth in the past years such as China and the Gulf States.
Following the democratization process which started last year in nearby countries in North Africa, Malta Enterprise will again lead business delegations to Tunisia, while the Corporation is also working to organise the business delegation to Libya.
The events also provide an opportunity for Malta Enterprise to promote Malta and increase the awareness about the opportunities that the country offers to foreign investors.
Participating companies are assisted not only financially, but also in setting up meetings to make the first important step in order to establish the leads required for growth in foreign markets.
Since 2009, Malta Enterprise has approved assistance amounting to over €7.2 million to around 660 companies to participate in trade delegations, trade fairs, as well as through the ERDF co-funded International Competitiveness scheme. A Fourth Call for the latter scheme is open until April 3rd, 2012.
The markets chosen for the internationalisation events are selected on the basis of a number of factors, including a survey among a number of companies which asked for their target markets and their past relationship with foreign markets, as well as Malta's commercial ties and the assistance which can be provided on the ground to ensure a successful outcome for the events.
The cooperation and input from organisations such as the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, FinanceMalta, the General Retailers and Traders Union, the Gozo Business Chamber, as well as other business organisations and sector specific associations is also crucial for the success of these initiatives.
Click hereunder to view the full Calendar of Internationalisation Events 2012.