Tonio Borg
Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The signing of 14 double taxation agreements is only a fraction of what the Foreign Affairs Ministry has achieved in the first 18 months of this government.
The last two signings were done in October when Malta signed agreements for the avoidance of double taxation with the governments of Isle of Man and Georgia .
Apart from these 14 agreements, some of which involved months of negotiations and meetings, the ministry also reached accords with other countries on health, air services and an array of other subjects that are of great benefit to the Maltese both collectively and individually.
My ministry has embarked on a series of initiatives with the aim of making the best use of the resources available within the ministry, mostly human resources.
This includes not just the officials working in the ministry here in Malta but also those in our 27 embassies around the world. We are also utilising the more than a hundred consuls who represent our country worldwide. To the extent that we have signed 14 double taxation agreements during this period.
All the work was carried out in conjunction with a number of business delegations under the leadership of Malta Enterprise.
Mixed commissions with other countries and the setting up of new embassies and consulates have also contributed to attracting foreign direct investment to Malta .
The facilitation of Visa issuance according to market needs has also been a priority for his ministry in the past months.
A record number of around 50 Maltese businesses per month do get in touch with our embassies in order to explore possible business opportunities
We will make use of the momentum we have picked up in an effort not only to improve our bilateral relations with other countries but to promote and facilitate business and investment towards Malta.
List of bilateral agreements signed between March 2008 and October 2009
Double Taxation Agreements
France Protocol amending the agreement between Malta and France for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes and on capital was signed on August 29, 2008 and ratified by Malta on October 30, 2008. Georgia Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital, signed on October 23. Ireland An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on Income was Signed November 14, 2008 and was ratified by Malta on November 18, 2008. The agreement was ratified by Ireland on January 15, 2009. Isle of Man An agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income with Isle of Man was signed on October 23. Italy A Protocol to the agreement between Malta and Italy for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of fiscal evasions was signed on March 13, and ratified by Malta on July 28. Jordan A Convention between Malta and Jordan for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed on April 16. Lebanon A Protocol amending the convention between Malta and Lebanon for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed in Beirut on February 23. It entered into force on April 16 (provisionally in force). Libya A Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed on December 28, 2008. Montenegro An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed on November 4, 2008. Qatar An avoidance of double taxation convention was signed on August 26.
San Marino
A Protocol amending the convention between Malta and San Marino with respect to taxes on income, originally signed on May 3, 2005 was signed on September 10. Serbia An agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of fiscal evasions was signed on September 9. Switzerland An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was signed on December 18, 2008: Ratified by Malta on 14 January. United States (USA) A Convention between Malta and the United States of America for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect of taxes of income was signed on August 8, 2008.
