Malta Enterprise, the state agency responsible for trade promotion and attraction of direct investment from abroad, is conducting all its outreach promotion directly from its head office in Guardamangia.

The only new exception, Times of Malta has learnt, is China, where Sai Mizzi Liang, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife, was directly employed as regional leader for Asia and is presently based in Beijing.

Ms Mizzi Liang, the only employee at Malta Enterprise given a financial deal commensurate to that of an ambassador, should shortly move to Shanghai where Malta Enterprise will be opening a new office.

A spokesman for Malta Enterprise noted that, in the case of China, before the employment of Ms Mizzi Liang the agency used to “outsource investment promotion” but “no significant inroads were made”.

He said it was decided to “employ a highly qualified person as opposed to contracting out the task of promoting Malta’s involvement in China” adding that “this has already led to significant inroads”.

Malta Enterprise sources yesterday told this newspaper that, before Ms Mizzi Liang was appointed, “the same job was carried out by a Maltese person in China employed directly by the agency following a public call for applications”.

The opening of a Malta Enterprise office in China contrasts with the agency’s new policy whereby all investment promotion will be coordinated from Malta. According to Malta Enterprise, no overseas offices are in operation apart from China and Dubai. In Dubai, the spokesman said, the agency shared office space and locally enlisted staff with the Maltese consulate.

Beyond that, he added, “Malta Enterprise does not have offices abroad. Its international outreach programmes are implemented directly from Malta and through an evolving network of individuals in various countries.”

Asked to specify the number of individuals in different countries and their salaries, the spokesman would not give details.

Instead, he said that “the relationship between these officials and Malta Enterprise is a variety of types, ranging from direct employment to performance-based arrangements.”

Until Labour’s return to office last year, Malta Enterprise had established direct presence in various regions around the globe, particularly in areas deemed as important for attracting business to the islands.

The network was developed through the employment of regional leaders – better known as commercial attaches – placed in various cities including Washington, Beijing, Sydney, Mumbai and Dubai.

They normally worked from the same premises hosting Maltese embassies following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2011 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Malta Enterprise.

In cases where Malta did not have an established embassy or consulate, the agency hired office space for its officials.

In all cases, the selection of the representatives was made following a public call for applications.