Malta airport ranked fifth best in Europe

Times of Malta 22/02/2014: Malta International Airport has been ranked the fifth best in Europe, according to the 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The Maltese airport ranked fifth out of a total 75 European airports surveyed, the Airports Council International (ACI) said.

The airport got an overall passenger satisfaction score of 4.17 on a scale from one (poor) to five (excellent). Of the top five European airports, only one other forms part of Malta International Airport’s category: airports which serve between two and five million passengers.

“Malta International Airport has performed consistently well in the ASQ survey, thanks to our constant investment in infrastructure and customer service. The competition may be get ting tougher every year but we are more determined to excel,” said CEO Markus Klaushofer. “Our airport gives visitors the first and last impression of Malta and we cherish this important role with a sense of pride and...read on.

Malta ranked 17th in Tax Revenue

Times of Malta 16/02/2014: Malta ranked 17th in tax revenue as a percentage of GDP in 2011 – at 34.8 per cent, well below the EU27 average of 40 per cent.

The figures released by Eurostat show that the percentage grew from 31.2 per cent in 2011 to a peak of 36 per cent in 2007, fluctuating since then.

The ratio of tax revenue to GDP was highest in Denmark, Belgium and France (48.6 per cent, 46.7 per cent and 45.9 per cent respectively) while the lowest shares were recorded in Lithuania (26.4 per cent), Bulgaria (27.2 per cent) and Latvia (27.7 per cent).

The effects of the economic and financial crisis on tax revenues from 2007 onwards are apparent across the EU. From its last spike in 2006, the ratio of tax revenue to...read on.

MaltaIndependent 18/02/2014: Malta made its debut in the Winter Olympics today when Elise Pellegrin took part in the giant slalom competition in the Sochi Games.

She finished in 72nd place out of 74 athletes who finished the race, with a time of 1.36.85. The first-placed athlete, Tina Maze, ended the run in a time of 1.17.88. In the second run, she made it to the 65th place out of 67 athletes.

The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) awarded Pellegrin the country’s only quota place in the Games after...read on.

Scicluna - ‘Economic stability and growth potential attracting foreign investment’

MaltaToday 15/02/2014: Finance minister Edward Scicluna today welcomed the upward trend in Foreign Direct Investment, pointing out that this confirmed that Malta's economic stability and growth potential is attracting back investment by foreign investors.

Malta's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows for the first half of 2013 turned marginally positive after having been on a downward trend since 2010...read on.

Transport Malta launches new grant scheme on purchase of electric vehicles

MaltaIndependent 14/02/2014: Transport Malta, in conjunction with the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, has launched a scheme, in the form of a grant, to incentivise the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Quadricycles.

This scheme is aimed at reducing the number of old motor vehicles from the road and thus reducing pollution. Subject to various conditions, the grant is divided in three. A grant of €4,000 will be given to persons registering an electric car and €1,500 to those registering an electric quadricyle. The grant shall increase from €4,000 to €5,000 in case of persons registering a Battery Electric Vehicle while at the same time de-register another internal combustion engine propelled vehicle which is at least 10 years old from the year of its manufacture.

The Government has allocated € 300,000 over the next 24 months for this scheme.  Applications will be handled on a first come first served basis...read on.

eSkills Malta Foundation

Times of Malta 13/02/2014: The Government has launched the eSkills Malta Foundation, which has brought together various government bodies and the Chamber of Commerce to create the skills base and life-long quality growth required for a digitally enabled knowledge economy.

Edward Zammit Lewis, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth, explained how eSkills were important for Malta to have a thriving digital economy.

“For Malta to be amongst the most innovative and competitive countries, we need to nurture a strong and adequate work force equipped with the right digital skills,” he said.

The eSkills Malta Foundation groups Government representatives from the education sector and MITA together with Malta Enterprise, Malta Communications Authority, the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, the Employment and Training Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.
 
The foundation’s mandate is: ...read on.

Maltese business manifesto launched

MaltaIndependent 15/02/2014:  Five employers’ associations have been brought together by the European Parliament Office in Malta to produce a “Maltese business manifesto,” in which they state their expectations from the next European Parliament legislature and from Malta’s 6 MEPs.

The manifesto, which carries the headline “We’re in business together,” was launched at a panel discussion this morning, and the associations – the GRTU, the Malta Business Bureau, the Malta Employers Association, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Malta Chamber – were each responsible for one of its five chapters.

They also agreed on three general principles, with the first being an emphasis on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality within the EU, as well as an increased awareness of Malta’s particular situation as an island country on the periphery of the EU, which, they point out, restricts Malta’s access to economies of scale and to...read on.

Malta has to be land of opportunity, equality and innovation - PM Muscat

Times of Malta 09/02/2014: Prime minister Joseph Muscat said today that Malta has to become a land of opportunity, a land of equality and a land of innovation.

Concluding the annual general conference of the Labour Party, Dr Muscat said Malta was ready and able to compete to be the best.

It had shed its inferiority complex. The new generation was ambitious in the good sense, he said. This was not a generation that was satisfied just with what it was given. This was a generation which sought new ways to create wealth.

This was an era of the social networks. One had to defend one's identity not by refusing change and being insular, but by being relevant, by thinking global and by embracing change.

The Maltese had to be reasonable as well as firm, confident in their abilities to make their country a land of opportunity which created good jobs for its people, created the right business environment and made Malta a natural...read on.

Horizon 2020: A programme for Europe, an opportunity for Malta

MaltaIndependent 09/02/2013: With a budget of nearly €80 billion over seven years, Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU research and innovation programme yet and one of the largest in the world. Horizon 2020 offers therefore a great opportunity for Maltese researchers, universities and companies.

Horizon 2020 will fund the whole innovation chain: from the best fundamental research to close to market innovation. It will also support Europe's recovering economy, because we know that investment in research and innovation means growth and jobs.

Maltese researchers drew some €17 million in funding from the previous EU research programme (FP7), with greatest success in the areas of Information and Communication Technologies, transport, and research for SMEs. But they have been less...read on.

Foreign investors will make Malta their home

MaltaIndependent 03/02/2014: The compulsory one-year residency requirement to the ‘citizenship for sale’ scheme should have been longer but, nonetheless, applicants are bound to fall in love with Malta and choose to live here permanently, according to PN MEP candidate Helga Ellul. Interviewed by Neil Camilleri, the former businesswoman also insists that the IIP should not be the government’s only economic plan, and the €1 billion in profits have to be invested in job creation if the scheme is really about investment.

Helga Ellul chose to contest the EP elections on the PN ticket for two main reasons, the first being that she always considered herself as a Christian Democrat, and the second because she admires the way in which the Gonzi-led government dealt with the financial crisis. On the other hand she has doubts as to whether the current Labour administration can achieve the same results.

“I have essentially worked with a PN government for the past 25 years. I have seen their business approach and how they support business. During the financial crisis the PN looked at companies in difficulty on an individual level and not only...read on.

10 Reasons To Visit…. Malta

MaltaPoints 05/02/2014: 1. The Climate - Malta is renowned for its pleasant climate. Summer is hot and ideal for sun worshippers, but skirt its edges and you can enjoy hot sunny days without roasting. Even deepest winter remains mild, with cooler days averaging around 15C/59F, but still 5-6 hours of sunshine, and the occasional glorious day thrown in.

Clearly, when you visit will depend on your preference, but September and October are highly recommended, giving you the benefits of the (tolerably) sunny weather without the crowds or the peak prices.

2. Valletta - Valletta is Malta’s capital and a World Heritage site. It has been variously described as an “open-air museum” and the “world’s most historic city”. It was built by the governing Knights of St John, following their success in the Great Siege of 1565, and is a...read on.

Israel, Malta issue joint postage stamp

Times of Israel 03/02/2014: Israel and Malta have issued a joint postage stamp to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between the countries and recall the shared history of the Order of the Knights Hospitallers that began in Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. 

The stamp, valued at NIS 3.90 ($1.10) and designed by Ronen Goldberg, features a view of the Hospitallers’ refectory in the Israeli port city of Acre alongside a similar depiction of a hall in the Hospitallers Hospital in Valletta, Malta, as well as the flags of both countries. 

First-day covers of the stamp, which were issued in January, also include images of the sea wall from Acre and the fortifications of Valletta’s port...read on.

Prehistoric Malta under microscope

Valletta as it was revealed new forensic technology
will be used to study how early people lived on the island

Belfast Telegraph 01/02/2014: Researchers from Northern Ireland are hoping to unlock the secrets of a prehistoric Mediterranean society and chart the rise and fall of a civilisation. 

New forensic technology will be used to study how early people lived in an unstable environment on the island of Malta around 5,500 years ago.

Experts from Queen's University Belfast will reconstruct the changing ecology of the island using ancient pollen samples.

Caroline Malone said: "The island provides us with a fascinating laboratory. "By a combination of fieldwork and exciting new forensic technology, we expect to uncover a wealth of new information...read on.

Malta attracted 85,000 English language students in 2013

MaltaIndependent 29/01/2014: Up to 85,000 English language students came to Malta last year, spending around €145 million collectively, Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella announced this morning.

Speaking during the FELTOM annual general meeting Mr Vella said that the government is pledging its full support to this sector.

Statistics show that one in eighteen tourists who visit Malta come to learn English. Malta is attracting an average of 82,000 English language students every year, amounting to 5.7% of the tourism sector. 2012 numbers had increased by 18.2% over the previous year. The majority of students are Italian, German and...read on.

Air Malta voted one of Hungary’s favourite airlines

Times of Malta 29/01/2014: Air Malta was voted one of Hungary’s favourite airlines, placing second for best value and fifth overall, in the Favourite Airline of Hungary 2013 Award.

The award was organised by one of Hungary’s biggest booking sites, repjegy.hu in conjunction with the Budapest Airport. Some 3,150 passengers who travelled during 2013 voted online from 114 airlines.

In the Best Value for Money category, Qatar Airways placed first, Air Malta placed second and Turkish Airlines placed third. Qatar Airways also topped the Favourite Airline overall award followed by Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Swiss International Air Lines and Air Malta. Air Malta also placed fifth in the Best Schedule category.
The award ceremony at Budapest Airport was held on Thursday morning. (source)

Seven Beland today celebrates 5 Years of fine Service in Malta and Switzerland

On February 4, 2009 - the birthday of co-founder Alexander Johnson - Seven Beland GmbH was founded in Wallisellen, just outside of Zurich, Switzerland. Home of the musical STORM and other services to the music and entertainment industry, Seven Beland today specialises in business consulting, business development and real estate in Malta and international.


From the song collection of STORM the Musical. Enjoy the show!

Air Malta’s Love Plane takes to the skies again for Valentine’s Day

Gozo News 01/02/2014: Air Malta has said that if you are “stuck for a unique idea to impress your better half on Valentine’s Day, then it is once again planning a pampering guaranteed to take your love to new heights.”

‘The Air Malta Love Plane’ is back following last year’s resounding success, offering couples a round trip over the Sicilian coastline and Mount Etna by night.

The airline said that the flight “includes a romantic dinner tailored to your tastes at an altitude of 14,000 feet, as well as club seating for maximum comfort – one couple per row.”

Live music will serenade couples on board and guests will also be given a Love Bag that includes a gift from Classic Jewellers and some other great surprises...read on.
(According to Air Malta's Ticket Office, the fare per person is EUR 99.)

Isle Of MTV Malta Returns This June

"We'll be back to rock Floriana's Il Fosos square this summer..."

MTV.co.uk 21/01/2014: One of the biggest events of the summer, Isle of MTV is back on June 25 2014 on the stunning Mediterranean island of Malta!

2014 marks the eighth year the free concert returns to the Med, which attracts visiting fans from all around Europe.

With the reputation for showcasing some of the biggest names in the international music scene, Isle Of MTV Malta has previously welcomed performers including Lady Gaga,  Black Eyed Peas, N*E*R*D, David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Will.I.Am and many more...read on.

Malta: international investment position of €1.64 bn

Gozo News 23/01/2014: As at the end of June 2013, the Maltese economy recorded an estimated net international investment position of €1.64 billion, the National Statistics Office said today. In June 2013 total foreign assets increased by €0.98 billion, compared to the same month in 2012. Total foreign liabilities increased by €0.80 billion during the corresponding period, resulting in an overall increase in the International Investment Position (IIP) of €0.18 billion.

Malta’s total foreign assets abroad amounted to €48.69 billion as at end of June 2013. Other Investment accounted for 53.5 per cent, while Portfolio Investment represented 42.9 per cent of total foreign assets. The improvement in Malta’s foreign assets was mainly driven by a €1.47 billion increase in debt securities, primarily bonds and notes. This was partly offset by a €0.55 billion decline in Other Investment mainly due to a fall in loans generated by the banking sector.

At the end of June last year, Malta’s foreign liabilities were estimated at €47.05 billion. Accounting for 73.7 per cent of total foreign liabilities, Other Investment went up to €34.69 billion from €33.32 billion in June 2012. The NSO said that the increase was mainly attributed to an increase in loans to the Monetary Authorities. Foreign direct investment, representing 24.3 per cent of total foreign liabilities, declined to €11.42 billion from €11.98 billion a year earlier. (source)