‘Malta is open for business’, minister tells China luxury property expo
Largest-ever Maltese business delegation heads to China to encourage property investment
Malta’s largest-ever business delegation to travel overseas has visited a luxury property expo in China in a bid to attract foreign investment.
More than 80 representatives from the property sector visited the LPS Shanghai Luxury Property Exhibition on a trip organised by the Property Malta Foundation, a public-private partnership tasked with attracting property investment in Malta.
In a keynote speech, Minister Jonathan Attard told the conference, “Malta is open for business ... We welcome investors who share our vision for sustainable growth and innovation”.
The Shanghai event, co-organised with luxury vessel company Ferretti Yachts, bills itself as “Asia-Pacific’s leading luxury real estate exhibition ... presenting unique estates to a discerning audience of Chinese luxury home buyers”, according to its website.
On Saturday, Attard met Shanghai's vice mayor as part of the visit.
In a statement announcing the trip, the construction reform ministry said Attard had positioned Malta as a “strategic gateway for international investors and reaffirmed the country’s dedication to transparency, sustainability, and high-quality standards”.
Malta's largest-ever business delegation to travel overseas visited the Shanghai expo. Photo: DOI.Attard told investors Malta offered “strong long-term value and lifestyle advantages for investors seeking both financial and personal return”, while highlighting the country’s “stability, quality of life, and robust legal framework”, the statement read.
The minister pointed to KPMG statistics he said showed that the property and construction sectors accounted for nearly 14% of Malta’s Gross Value Added (GVA), when indirect economic effects were included.
The ministry statement described Malta’s construction and property sectors as “acting as a driver for innovation, sustainability, and improved quality of life”.
Malta’s delegation highlighted the upcoming launch of Malta’s Property Price Register – which the ministry said would provide “detailed transaction data” – progress on national building codes and other reforms to “strengthen professionalism and integrity" in contractor and agent licencing.
Property Malta Foundation chairman Sandro Chetcuti said he was pleased with the size of the delegation, and “proud that new connections are being built to jointly promote our country, and the investment opportunities Malta has to offer”.
The event was also attended by Malta's ambassador to China, John Busuttil.