Bank of Valletta is set to host a series of business networking events over the next two weeks at Harrods – the world-famous luxury store in Knightsbridge, London – as part of a Maltese promotional campaign organised by the Malta High Commission.
Charles Borg, BoV’s chief executive officer, told The Sunday Times: “As the largest financial institution in Malta, we believe this initiative provides us with the ideal platform to continue to promote Malta as a competitive, well-regulated and reputable destination for a wide range of operations related to financial services to be domiciled.
“The business networking events we are organising will showcase Malta as an emerging financial centre supported by a strong and resilient banking sector wherein BoV commands the largest share in deposits, loans, treasury and capital markets activity.”
He said Bank of Valletta was fully supportive of the initiative taken by the Maltese High Commissioner in the UK, Joseph Zammit Tabona, to showcase Malta at Harrods in London.
Mr Borg said Bank of Valletta is today acting as a catalyst in shaping Malta’s economic development, and the business networking events at Harrods will give the bank the opportunity to continue to explain Malta’s “value proposition” in various areas related to the financial services sector such as funds, trusts, insurance and risk management and to highlight how BoV can support businesses seeking to locate in Malta.
Mr Borg said the bank was pleased with the response it received from the guests invited to its business networking events.
“We will have the opportunity to present our country and our institution to a wide cross section of delegates representative of the many facets of the financial services sector, including banks, hedge fund managers, insurance companies, legal representatives and audit firms, amongst others,” he said.
Mr Borg said Malta, for historical reasons, has very close ties with the UK, and Bank of Valletta has excellent relations with a number of financial institutions based in the UK.
“We have wide-ranging correspondent banking arrangements with banks in the UK.
“We also have a number of business partnerships that are managed out of the UK. Clearly, the UK is a very important financial centre on a global level while being a very important market for Malta.
“Through the business networking events we are organising at Harrods we hope to be able to identify new business synergies that would continue to build on the strong links between the two countries while continuing to attract new business to Malta,” he said.
Harrods is flying the Maltese flag in celebration of Malta’s promotion at the world-renowned store, marking Malta’s 70th anniversary as a George Cross Island, and will continue to do so until March 28.
There will also be an array of displays of Maltese photography and artwork, Mdina blown glass and Maltese antique silver throughout the luxury store to give visitors a taste of the modern and traditional delights of Malta.
The first business network event, ‘Think Malta – Trust Malta – Personal estate planning and corporate trusts in Malta’ will be held on Tuesday and will be addressed by Andrew Chetcuti Ganado and Mark Agius from BoV.
The two speakers will discuss personal estate planning and corporate trusts in Malta as well as BoV’s value proposition as a ‘one-stop shop’ trustee in Malta. The event will also be addressed by the director of strategic partnership at Barclays, Derek Westpfe.
The second event, on Thursday, will focus on structuring insurance and risk management solutions in Malta. Aldo Scardino from BoV will be talking about Malta’s position as an emerging financial services centre and an ideal jurisdiction for international business. He will also highlight the BoV Group’s role as the financial services partner of choice when doing business from Malta.
Matthew Bianchi, partner at Ganado and Associates, will also be speaking at this meeting, giving an overview of Malta’s insurance law and regulation while guiding the audience through the opportunities available to insurers and risk managers in an integrated market.
‘Malta – A European fund domicile gaining strong growth traction’, the third business networking event, will be held on March 12, and will be addressed by Kenneth Farrugia, chief officer of BoV’s funds business, who will talk about Malta’s paradigm shift in the funds industry.
Andrè Zerafa from Ganado and Associates will also be explaining the legal framework regulating Investment funds in Malta.
The fourth and final event will focus on structuring mergers and acquisitions transactions in Malta. Aldo Scardino from BoV will speak about Malta’s role as an emerging financial services centre and an ideal business jurisdiction to structure international business.
Louis Degabriele from Camilleri Preziosi Advocates will illustrate the legal framework needed to set up corporate structures in Malta with the objective of acquiring, managing and disposing of assets. Finally, Dr Degabriele will also present a case study with examples of transactions structured in Malta.
The BoV business networking events form part of the ‘This is Malta’ campaign at Harrods in London during March.