The Maltese embassy in Vienna last week held a day-long Malta Business Forum during which Austrian businesses were briefed on Maltese trade and investment opportunities. Austrian and Maltese businessmen were also able to discuss joint ventures in a series of one-to-one meetings.

The event was held in collaboration with Malta Enterprise.

Some 120 Austrian participants from 70 companies and banks attended., along with a 30-strong delegation from Malta was led by the Executive Chairman of Malta Enterprise, Alan Camilleri.

Malta's Ambassador to Austria, Christopher Grima in an address focused on the strong potential that exists for developing Malta and Austria as regional gateways for business and investment to the Mediterranean/North Africa and the Middle East and to East and South East Europe respectively.

The Ambassador remarked that much had changed since the last Malta/Austria business event and new opportunities have followed for increased Malta-Austrian business cooperation, not least through membership in the European Union. Ambassador Grima noted that as members of the EU, Malta and Austria today share a common currency, form part of the single market and the Schengen area and also have access to EU funds for business and investment purposes.

Mr Camilleri highlighted the Economic Vision 2015 to develop Malta into a centre of excellence in a number of areas and the shift that has been made to services. He also set out the different reasons why Malta is ideally positioned for trade and investment, including its incentive regime, the market access it provides, its highly skilled and well-educated workforce and its lifestyle.

The President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Helga Ellul gave an overview on the Chamber and described the positive experience of Playmobil in Malta. Other speakers were Michael Berger, Austrian trade representative for Malta, Karin Zipperer, Chairman of Malta International Airport and Bernice Buttigieg from Finance Malta.