What TradeMalta does

TradeMalta is Malta's national trade promotion agency, structured as a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta (under the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade) and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. Founded in 2015 and headquartered at Tigné Point, Sliema, the organization supports Malta-based businesses in internationalising by distributing government-funded financial assistance, organizing trade missions and national pavilions at international exhibitions (Gulfood, Libya Build), providing market intelligence access (Statista, Economist Intelligence Unit, Kompass, ITC tools), and delivering export training programs such as the Internationalisation Strategy Masterclass and LearnEXPORT Series.

The organization's core "products" are grant and service programs: the International Trade Promotion Incentive Scheme (ITPIS) provides co-funding of up to 50% of eligible costs for SMEs (capped at €30,000 per undertaking annually and €300,000 over three years under EU de minimis rules) across programs covering Exhibiting Overseas, Business Missions, Global Growth, Digital Marketing, Market Research, Third Party Multipliers, and International Tenders. TradeMalta also operates the Exporters Directory, the annual Malta International Business Awards (MIBA), and a content library of webinars and podcasts. Technology infrastructure is third-party SaaS: Submittable for applications, Statista and EIU for market intelligence, and standard web/social channels.

TradeMalta does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through government budget allocations with a disclosed ITPIS budget of €4 million per three-year scheme period (2025-2027). The go-to-market is sales-led outreach combined with self-serve online applications, targeting Malta-based SMEs and large enterprises at all stages of export readiness. Beneficiary base spans at least nine verticals including food and beverage, construction, gaming, education, maritime training, aquaculture, pet food, 3D printing, and beverage manufacturing, with named showcase clients such as Simonds Farsons Cisk, SiGMA, PetNutrition, AquaBioTech Group, Thought3D, and the Central Mediterranean Business School.

Name

TradeMalta

Legal name

TradeMalta Limited

Website

https://trademalta.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TradeMalta is Malta's national trade promotion agency, a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta and the Malta Chamber that helps Malta-based businesses internationalise through co-funded grants, trade missions, market intelligence access, and export training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Promotion Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Facilitation, Customs & Border Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAG), Customs Brokerage & Trade Compliance (EDAOANAH)

Keywords

• Trade promotion services
• Export financial assistance
• International market research
• Business matchmaking services
• Export training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sliema

HQ country

Malta

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Financial Assistance Distribution: TradeMalta operates as a government-funded trade promotion agency that distributes financial assistance to qualifying Malta-based businesses through the International Trade Promotion Incentive Scheme (ITPIS). The organization does not generate revenue from its services; it is funded through government budget allocations with a total budget of €4 million per three-year scheme period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TradeMalta is Malta's national trade promotion organization operating as a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta and the Malta Chamber of Commerce. It provides Malta-based businesses with financial assistance (co-funding/grants through the International Trade Promotion Incentive Scheme), market intelligence access (Statista and EIU databases), organized international trade missions and exhibition pavilions, B2B matchmaking through third-party multipliers, structured export training programs (Internationalisation Strategy Masterclass, LearnEXPORT Series), and an online exporters directory to support internationalisation efforts.

Product overview

TradeMalta is Malta's national trade promotion organisation, established as a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. The organisation offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to help Malta-based businesses expand internationally. The core offerings include financial assistance programmes (Exhibiting Overseas, Business Missions, Global Growth, Digital Marketing, Market Research, Third Party Multipliers, International Tenders), educational training (Internationalisation Strategy Masterclass, LearnEXPORT Series, Webinars & Podcasts), and market intelligence tools (Statista, EIU databases, Market Analysis Tools, Market & Sector Insights). The organisation also facilitates trade missions, organises national pavilions at international exhibitions like Gulfood and Libya Build, and maintains an Exporters Directory and Malta International Business Awards to celebrate export achievements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Malta International Business Awards (MIBA): An awards program celebrating the achievements of Maltese businesses in selling their products and services internationally.
• Internationalisation Strategy Masterclass
• LearnEXPORT Series

Products and services

• Financial Assistance (International Trade Promotion Incentive Scheme) Financial support programme for Malta-based businesses to internationalise or expand export activities. Operates through the International Trade Promotion Incentive Scheme (ITPIS) with a maximum aid of €30,000 per undertaking per calendar year and a maximum de minimis aid threshold of €300,000 over any three consecutive years. SMEs may be reimbursed up to 50% of eligible costs while large enterprises may be reimbursed up to 40%.
• Exhibiting Overseas Programme Co-financing support for Malta-based businesses participating in international trade events, fairs, and exhibitions. Covers eligible costs including exhibition space, stand design, marketing collateral, freight, interpretation services, and travel costs. Applications submitted through the Submittable online portal.
• Business Missions Organised outgoing trade missions targeting strategic countries and regions, providing a structured approach for collaboration and business development with networking opportunities. Recent missions include a delegation to Liverpool, Wrexham, and Cardiff in the United Kingdom in May 2026.
• Global Growth Programme Flexible programme for companies with export experience to strengthen market preparedness and expand international reach through marketing collateral, packaging, translation, SEO, event participation, and business development. Supported through TradeMalta's strategic partnership with HSBC Commercial Banking.
• Digital Marketing Co-Funding Scheme Financial support for international digital marketing activities including search engine advertising, social media advertising, online platforms, digital design costs, and SEO for Malta-based businesses seeking to expand internationally.
• Market Research Programme Funding programme to procure specific market research and market intelligence reports from international providers, assisting Malta-based companies in honing export strategies for high-opportunity markets.
• Market Research Services (Statista & EIU Access) Free access to Statista (80,000+ topics, 170 industries) and Economist Intelligence Unit databases for Malta-based companies, providing reports, analysis, forecasts, and data on global markets at no cost through TradeMalta's organisational licensing.
• Market Analysis Tools Suite of market analysis tools including Kompass, ITC Market Analysis Tools, EU Access to Markets, and EU Sanctions Compliance Helpdesk to help Malta-based businesses develop optimal market entry strategies.
• Third Party Multipliers Programme Support programme for Malta-based businesses using appointed third-party multipliers in specific regions for export readiness assessments, market reports, B2B matchmaking, and trade show support.
• International Tender Alert Services Financial support for Malta-based businesses to subscribe to platforms and services that help identify international business opportunities and tender applications.
• Internationalisation Strategy Masterclass
• LearnEXPORT Series Self-paced online short courses covering market research, competitor analysis, conferences/exhibitions presence, financing international ventures, legal issues, sales force management, INCO terms, logistics, and transportation management to help Malta-based businesses gain exporting skills and knowledge.
• Exporters Directory Free online listing service for Malta-based companies involved in or seeking to export goods and/or services, showcasing local exporters to international buyers.
• Market & Sector Insights Library of market and sector reports offering insightful analysis and business intelligence to assist Malta-based businesses in assessing market potential and monitoring key sector developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum €30,000 financial assistance per undertaking per calendar year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Government of Malta (Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTradeMalta is a public-private partnership between the Government of Malta and the Malta Chamber. The Government, currently under the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, provides governmental authority and strategic direction.
• Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry is a co-founding partner of TradeMalta, representing the private sector perspective in this public-private partnership.
• HSBC Bank plcflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSBC Commercial Banking is a strategic partner of TradeMalta, supporting the Global Growth programme and providing international business guides to Maltese exporters.
• Trade Promotion Europe (TPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTradeMalta is a member and co-founder of Trade Promotion Europe (TPE), a non-profit association comprising national and regional trade and agri-food promotion organizations. TPE aims to enhance European trade through improved coordination and information sharing.
• European Trade Promotion Organisations Working Group of Information Professionals (ETPO-WGIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTradeMalta is represented in the ETPO-WGIP, established in 1973 to promote the exchange of knowledge among European TPOs on information processing and dissemination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Business Sweden: Sweden's national trade and investment promotion agency, jointly owned by the Swedish government and the private sector. Directly comparable to TradeMalta's public-private partnership structure, service mix (market research, missions, partner search), and government mandate.
• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Swiss official trade and investment promotion agency with a public-private mandate. Comparable to TradeMalta in structure (PPP), service mix (market research, missions, partner search), and focus on SME internationalisation.
• Business Finland: Finnish government innovation funding and trade promotion organisation offering export advisory, market intelligence, and partner search. Comparable to TradeMalta as a state-backed TPO that provides co-funding and digital tools to SMEs seeking international growth.
• ICEX Spain Trade and Investment: Spanish national trade promotion entity under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Comparable to TradeMalta as a public trade promotion organisation offering financial assistance, market intelligence, and internationalisation training programmes.
• Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT): Belgian Flemish regional TPO providing subsidies, trade missions, and market intelligence. Comparable as a sub-national public trade promotion body with similar financial incentive schemes and overseas trade fair participation.
• Enterprise Ireland: Ireland's national enterprise development agency, a public body that provides grants, market intelligence, and trade promotion services to Irish exporters. Highly comparable to TradeMalta as a fellow small-EU-economy TPO with co-funding schemes and overseas trade missions.
• Enterprise Estonia (EIS): Estonian state foundation for enterprise development offering export advisory, training, and co-financing to Estonian SMEs. Directly comparable to TradeMalta as a small-economy EU-state TPO with a similar public-mandate service suite.
• CzechTrade: Czech government agency for export promotion, part of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Highly comparable to TradeMalta in offering co-financed trade missions, market research, B2B matchmaking, and an exporters' directory to domestic SMEs.
• Italian Trade Agency (ITA): Italian government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that promotes Italian exports. Directly comparable to TradeMalta as a state-mandated TPO providing co-funding, trade fairs, and training to Italian exporters.
• Advantage Austria: Austrian Federal Economic Chamber's international trade promotion arm, providing Austrian companies with market entry support, partner search, and trade missions. Directly comparable to TradeMalta as a national TPO with overseas offices and member-chamber backing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgkB_HLKnzHlmqsQKLU3CHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TradeMalta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trade-malta-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/trademalta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TradeMalta