With so many businesses forced to connect with customers digitally, one could argue the COVID-19 induced crisis has created major opportunities for local businesses to look beyond Malta’s shores.

Tackling the business of internationalisation and how local businesses could be supported to take this step are TradeMalta’s Anton Buttigieg – Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Sultana – Chairman and Joe Schembri – Chief Officer, who will be taking part in this Friday’s episode of The Boardroom.

Airing live on WhosWho.mt’s Facebook page at 2pm on Friday, presenter and business-writer Jo Caruana, together with TradeMalta’s leaders, will discuss how the entity can assist local players to take their business international.

Formed as a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta, currently under the remit of the Ministry for Economy, Investment and Small Businesses, and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, TradeMalta is dedicated to helping Malta-based businesses go international.

Friday’s Guests

Anton Buttigieg is a seasoned business executive currently leading the team at TradeMalta. He was appointed CEO of the public-private enterprise back in June 2015, and has had a varied career, having worked as an economist at the Central Bank of Malta, management consultancy at MISCO, business administration and development management at Panta Marketing and Services (Panta Lesco) and as an operations director with Business Leaders Malta.

Recently, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the European Trade Promotion Organisations’ Association.

Stephen Sultana is an international marketer in the private sector with over 25 years’ experience in exports and international business. He is also a former CEO of MaltaPost and former General Manager of the Malta External Trade Corporation (METCO), the predecessor of Trade Malta.

Joe Schembri serves as Chief Officer at TradeMalta, as well as lecturer at the University of Malta. Dr Schembri teaches and does research in international business and supports TradeMalta’s CEO with strategy initiatives. He has worked in international marketing and economic development for many years and his research has been published in the International Business Review.