Bank of Valletta is supporting the newly set-up Maltese-Japan Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organisation focused on strengthening commercial exchanges between Japan and Malta.

The collaborative agreement was signed during the recent trade mission in the presence of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Kenneth Farrugia, chief business development officer represented Bank of Valletta, while the chamber was represented by its president, Anthony Micallef.

Speaking on this agreement, Mr Farrugia said: “As Malta’s leading banking group, we are truly delighted to support the Malta-Japan Chamber.

“Our support is indirectly assisting Maltese businesses to grow beyond our shores. In the process, the bank is also extending its support to the internationalisation of Maltese businesses, which is to a great extent reflecting the development of our national economy, as it continues to grow through a stronger flow of foreign direct investments,” he added.

Thanking Bank of Valletta for its instrumental support, Mr Micallef said: “The Chamber, which was set up barely 10 months ago, is still in its embryonic phase. However, these were months in which we have witnessed substantial growth and there is significant potential for further growth as a result of the bilateral agreements between Malta and Japan.”

He expressed his confidence that collaboration between the two parties will serve to help the chamber in its mission to act as a focal point to build a network of entrepreneurs interested in business exchanges between the two countries.