Siggiewi-based international trading company Top Fresh is in talks with a Portuguese firm to have sugar repackaged under the Maltese brand, managing director Saviour Micallef told The Times Business in Prague.
The sugar, originated in the EU, will then be redistributed throughout Europe.
Representatives of 25 Maltese businesses and organisations were in the Czech capital over the past five days to participate in a business forum and to hold meetings with local firms.
According to Mr Micallef, Top Fresh is also exploring the possibility of opening food and beverage factories with US and Turkish partners.
The ventures are the fruit of contacts made during trade missions organised by Malta Enterprise.
Top Fresh, which specialises in the re-export and packaging of foodstuffs, is involved in several ventures that include edible oil and flavoured powders. It is a regular participant in official trade missions.
Noel Gauci Group, often represented in travelling business delegations, is currently studying the feasibility of establishing a biomass plant in Malta with a large Portuguese firm.
Group managing director Noel Gauci, whose business incorporates three companies specialising in renewable energy products and projects, says that should it be deemed viable, the plant would have to take the shape of a private-public partnership with the group providing the technology to support it.
Following his participation in the trade mission to Poland in January, Mr Gauci’s firm is in the process of finalising an export contract involving the development of solar water heaters adapted to Poland’s sub-zero temperatures. The Qormi firm specialises in producing solar heating products to designs and specifications following research by partners. It is looking to adapt its solar heating products to northern Europe climates.
In the Czech Republic, Carol Galea Souchet, general manager of operations, of the Institute of English Language Studies, met officials from a hotel operator and a financial company with a view to hosting Czech students at the school all year round. Czech students mostly travel to Malta to study English in the summer.
IELS, a joint venture between German investors and Mizzi Organisation, boasts a 100-classroom adult school, a 60-classroom junior school, and an exclusive facility with 10 classes in Gozo for executives and business students.
Top Fresh’s Saviour Micallef says trade delegations accompanying dignitaries present useful opportunities to meet potential business partners. The fact that entrepreneurs are accompanying a presidential or ministerial entourage gives weight to their enquiries to do business with the host country, he points out.
Ms Galea Souchet, who recently travelled to Japan independently to market IELS, says she recognises the value of participating in trade missions. She points out that networking with Maltese business people during their stay overseas often even leads to collaboration between local firms.
Malta Enterprise chairman Alan Camilleri, who led the business delegation to Prague, says the organisation plans to intensify its efforts to help local firms internationalise and expand operations overseas. Meanwhile, several participants said they made useful business contacts in the Czech capital which they intended to follow up from Malta.
The trade mission returns to Malta today.