Currently in Turkey on a state visit, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, addressed the Turkey-Malta Business Council Meeting, which was attended by Maltese and Turkish entrepreneurs.
President Coleiro Preca said that even though Malta and Turkey come from the same region, “we are certainly not competitors,” adding that the excellent collaboration between both countries can continue to develop.
“Malta’s geo-strategic potential is immense, due to my country’s position in the central Euro-Mediterranean region. This is equally paralleled by Turkey’s important position in the Euro-Asian region. One can say that we are two natural hubs, of our respective geo-strategic regions, within the Mediterranean Sea,” the President said.
Stating that governments are excellent enablers and facilitators, the President said that she believes that it is the people in business, as entrepreneurs of our respective countries, that can bring the necessary creative and essential innovation to develop potential business partnerships and collaborations.
President Coleiro Preca said that taking socio-economic ties to a higher level, will ensure people-to-people contact, and to also develop sustainable friendships between the peoples of Malta and Turkey, adding that, “the presence of the strong and diverse trade delegation from Malta, together with the presence of entrepreneurs and people in business from Turkey, is a clear indication of the confidence that Malta and Turkey mutually enjoy, in each other,” – a fact which is also reflected in the reduction of the trade deficit between Malta and Turkey.
The President, whilst also extending the Maltese Government’s invitation, encouraged those present, to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist between both countries, adding that Malta offers the right environment for business, which includes a sound financial sector, a highly-competent and professional workforce in all sectors, excellent connectivity, and a favourable tax regime.
“Creating an environment of inclusive prosperity for the benefit of the peoples of Malta and Turkey”
President Coleiro Preca stated that the only limit to “what we can achieve, is how high our aspirations go and how big our ambitions can be, to create an environment of inclusive prosperity for the benefit of the peoples of Malta and Turkey,” adding that Malta has already experienced the benefits of Turkish investment, especially in the banking, infrastructure, insurance and ship registration sectors, together with substantial Turkish investment in the Maltese Freeport Container Terminal, which is the third largest transfer and logistics centre of the Mediterranean Region.
On concluding, the President once again encouraged those present to seize the opportunity to find innovative ways to enhance business collaboration between our two countries, so that “together, we can ensure that our nations, will continue to grow and prosper together, not only in the best interests of our economies, but above all, in the best interest of our peoples.”
The Turkey-Malta Business Council Meeting was also addressed by Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Carmelo Abela, Minister of the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, Chris Cardona and by Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Property Market, Chris Agius.