The Maltese economy recorded an estimated net international investment position of €3.02 billion as at the end of March, the National Statistics Office siad.

It said that, compared to March last year, total foreign assets increased by €14.04 billion while total foreign liabilities increased by €13 billion, resulting in an overall increase in the international investment position of €1.04 billion.

The level of Malta’s total foreign assets abroad amounted to €225.98 billion. Portfolio Investment accounted for 44.9 per cent while other investment
represented 31.6 per cent of total foreign assets.

The increase in Malta’s foreign assets was characterised mainly by €7.25 billion increase in equity and investment fund shares and €5.86 billion in debt securities classified under portfolio investment.

A decline of €1.17 billion in direct investment, mainly due to a fall in debt instruments, partly offset this increase.

Malta’s foreign liabilities were estimated at €222.96 billion. Direct investment accounted for 70.6 per cent of foreign liabilities and totalled €157.50 billion, up from €152.67 billion recorded in March last year.

Other investment, representing 26.5 per cent of total foreign liabilities, registered €59.17 billion as against €51.67 billion a year earlier.