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Malta - DOING BUSINESS


Local business incentives


Foreign investments are encouraged by the government. The organisationrespondible for promoting international investments in Malta is Malta Enterprise, which is a governement body established on 1st January 2004. The government provides certain aids for domestic investors as well. The details of such aids are defined in theBusiness Promotion Act of 1988. A summary, written by Malta Entreprise, which provides help to set up in Malta is available here.


Legal forms of companies


Form Number of partners/shareholders Minimum and/or maximum capital Liability Registration fee Release of financial documents
Private Limited Liability Company (LTD)   Minimum 1 shareholder, maximum 50 shareholders   500 Lm (10,000 Lm if the company is under foreign control).   The liability of the partner is limited to the amount of the capital contributed   100 on 573 Lm.   yes  
Sole Proprietorship   1 partner   No minimum capital required   The liability of the partner is unlimited   ..   yes  
General Partnership   Minimum 2 partners, maximum 20 partners   No minimum capital required   Each partner is personally and indefinitely responsible for the debts and other commitments on behalf of the company   ..   ..  
Limited Partnership   Minimum 2 partners, maximum 20 partners   No minimum capital required   At least one of the partners is responsible personally and indefinitely for the debts and other commitments on behalf of the company   ..   ..  


Registration and licensing procedures


All new companies need to get registered with the Inland Revenue Department and the department in charge of the Value Added Tax ( VAT). In case of companies having salaried employees, it is also necessary to make such declarations with the Employment Training Corporation (ETC) and with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Moreover, the limited liability companies and the affiliates of foreign companies need to register themselves with the register of companies.



Foreign exchange control


Foreign investments need to be approved by the Central Bank of Malta (Exchange Control Division). There is no minimum limit fixed for the amount to be invested in the country (except when establishing a Limited Liability Company, a minimum capital of 10,000 Lm is required). Profits can be freely repatriated to the country of origin.


 


FDI inflows in Malta




FDI inflows (millions US$) 2000 2001 2002 World rank
Foreign Direct Investments (F.D.I.) -426   294   421   93 / 196
Sources : UNCTAD Database FDI/TNC


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Last modified in December 2003
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