Malta Basic Information

The Republic of Malta is located on an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, which consists of three inhabited islands. The largest is Malta, on which the capital Valletta is located. The other two inhabited islands are Gozo and Comino. Malta’s head of state is the president, whose role is largely representative. Executive power is vested in the government, headed by the president. The Maltese Parliament is unicameral. The country is divided into 5 regions. Each of them has its own regional committee, which serves as an intermediary between the local government and the national government. Malta’s economy is characterized by a lack of natural resources (primarily no fossil resources, a lack of groundwater) and a dry climate. Overall, the Maltese economy is dependent on foreign trade and tourism. The economy of Malta and the associated standard of living reached mainly in the 1990s. century, progress and can be characterized as relatively stable and prosperous. The most important sectors are wholesale and retail trade, tourism, transport, accommodation, catering and hospitality, and financial services. Maltese companies mostly belong to the category of small and medium-sized enterprises and prefer contact with sales representatives directly in Malta. A very widespread form of promotion in the Maltese market is therefore sales through representatives or distributors. Their activities can be implemented in the entire territory of Malta or only in some regions. Malta’s export products are machinery and mechanical equipment, mineral fuels, oils, pharmaceuticals, printed books and newspapers, aircraft and parts, toys, games and sports equipment. Imports mineral fuels, oils and products, electrical machinery, aircraft and their parts, machinery and mechanical equipment, plastic and other semi-finished products, vehicles and their parts. Malta, like other countries, is struggling with the effects of the pandemic and the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. The Maltese government is seeking economic recovery to promote clean energy sources and sustainable development. The government has prepared programs to support investments in technology, increase competitiveness and penetrate foreign markets, which are intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which represent the basis of the Maltese economy. Malta should receive up to EUR billion in Next Generation EU grants and loans. According to the latest forecasts of the Central Bank of Malta, the Maltese economy will grow by 6% in 2022, 5.3% in 2023 and 3.8% in 2024. The economic recovery is to be driven mainly by the recovery of tourism, net exports and domestic consumption.

This Summary Territorial Information is processed for a country that is so-called accredited. The information is provided in an abbreviated form.

Basic information about the territory

Subchapters:

• System of governance and political tendencies in the country
• Foreign policy of the country
• Population

The system of governance and political tendencies in the country

Official name of the country: Republic of Malta (Republika Ta`Malta, Republic of Malta)

President: George Vella (in office since 2019)

Composition of the government: The government of 18 ministers is appointed by the president of the republic and managed by the prime minister. The current government has been active since the parliamentary elections on 26/03/2022, was appointed on 30/03/2022, and has a five-year mandate.

The current composition of the government as of May 1, 2022:

• Robert Abela: Prime Minister
• Chris Fearne: mp. government and the Minister of Health
• Ian Borg: Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Trade
• Owen Bonnici: Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government
• Michael Falzon: Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights
• Anton Refalo, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights
• Roderick Galdes: Labor Minister for Social Affairs and Affordable Housing
• Silvio Schembri: Minister of Economy, European Funds and Land
• Julia Farrugia Portelli: Minister for Social Inclusion, Voluntary Organizations and Consumer Rights
• Aaron Farrugia: Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Investment Projects
• Clint Camilleri: Minister for Gozo
• Byron Camilleri: Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reform and Equality
• Clayton Bartolo: Minister of Tourism
• Miriam Dalliová: Minister of the Environment, Energy and Business
• Clyde Caruana: Minister of Finance and Employment
• Clifton Grima: Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation ·
• Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi: Minister of Public Works and Planning
• Jonathan Attard: Minister for Justice
• Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Active Ageing

Political trends in the country and the outlook General elections in Malta were held in March 2022, when a new Maltese government was formed under the strong mandate of Prime Minister Robert Abela, leader of the Labor Party (in the position of Prime Minister of MT since January 2020, when he replaced Joseph Muscat). The Labor Party won the election for the third time (2013, 2017, 2022), but for the first time under Abela’s leadership, with more than 55% of the vote. Given the unequivocal political victory of the Labor Party in the parliamentary elections (March 26, 2022), as well as the long-term declining preferences of the opposition Nationalist Party, we do not expect any revolutionary changes in the Maltese political scene in the next period. Check computerminus to learn more about Malta political system.

Foreign policy of the country

Today’s Republic of Malta was part of the British Empire until 1964, and it still has close ties with Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations (Commonwealth of Nations). Malta is a militarily neutral country, a member state of the EU (since 2004), it is active in multilateral diplomacy: in addition to the EU, it also participates in the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the United Nations, etc. Its membership in the European Union, but also in the Commonwealth of Nations (and previous membership in the Non-Aligned Movement in 1979-2004) understandably influences Malta’s geopolitical direction. Check relationshipsplus for Malta defense and foreign policy.

Its location and size are essential for Malta’s foreign policy priorities. The Mediterranean area is key for Malta, as are relations with its “neighbours”, including the countries of (North) Africa and the Middle East. The Mediterranean area, migration control, strong ties to Great Britain, support for direct investment and trade in Malta are thus the main lines of Maltese foreign policy.

The Czech Republic manages its relations with Malta from the Czech Embassy in Rome, an honorary consulate of the Czech Republic should be opened in Malta at the end of June 2022. Malta has a non-resident ambassador for the Czech Republic based in Valletta and an honorary consulate in Prague.

Population

51 thousand people live in Malta and the island of Gozo. resident.

Malta is the most densely populated EU country and one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a population density of 1.38. /km2, 73.34% of the population is economically active and 93.2% of the population lives in cities (2020). The average age is 4years, the average annual increase is 1.13% (2021).

Demographic composition:

Maltese make up 97% of the population, British 2% and others 1%.

Official Language: The official official languages ​​are Maltese and English.

Religion: The majority of the population (98%) adheres to the Roman Catholic religion.