Malta's citizenship by investment programme will attract high quality individuals who will contribute to the nation's well being and to the creation of a better country, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Stressing that Malta will continue protecting its good international reputation, Dr Muscat said the government had a clear mandate to bring in new and fresh ideas.
The individual investor programme was one such fresh idea, giving the country the opportunity to attract highly talented individuals and invite them to share in Maltese quality way of life.
He was addressing a forum organised by Henley and Partners, chosen by the government as concessionaires of the Maltese citizenship programme.
Dr Muscat said the programme was already attracting the right people who face "one of the most rigorous due diligence worldwide".
"The individual investor programme will bring Malta's citizenship laws to the 21st century and will transform the Maltese economy. Citizenship is not a transaction but a relationship," he told a conference hall packed with tax consultants and lawyers, bankers, real estate agents and businessmen.
As he spoke about how Malta was a link between Europe and Africa, he gave an overview of the country's main contributors to the economy, particularly the tourism industry which sees more than 1.5 million tourists visiting the island annually.
He said that although Malta had great schools, a strong education and also strong healthcare, it wanted to make them better by channelling funds from the IIP into a economic and social fund.
Dr Muscat also emphasised the importance being given to the process to choose the right people, by subjecting them to a rigorous due diligence. "We will leave no stone unturned in the scrutiny of each applicant," he warned.
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, who also addressed the forum, said the government was optimistic about the success of the programme and the interest that it generated exceeded" even the most bullish expectations".
"We have the right programme for the right people."
The programme, he said, had also been endorsed by the local community and the fact that over 80 local firms had been accredited to market and assist potential applicants reflected the enthusiasm of Maltese practitioners to participate and make the IIP a success.