Malta: The Perfect Location to Centre your Maritime Operations?
General
Malta boasts one of the largest ship registers in the world, with over 9,300 vessels (amounting to 86 million tonnes) registered under its flag. This article delves into Malta’s strategic location, tax regime, regulatory framework and modern infrastructure to understand how Malta has become a global maritime powerhouse.
Malta’s Geographical Location
Strategically located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta serves as a vital bridge between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. This central positioning makes it a prime hub for international trade and commerce, particularly for businesses dealing in physical goods.
Malta’s Modern Infrastructure
Malta complements its geographic advantage with world-class port infrastructure, ensuring efficient and reliable global distribution and shipping. This combination of accessibility and logistical support solidifies Malta’s status as the perfect location for companies targeting multiple regional markets.
Malta’s Skilled Workforce
Malta also boasts a highly skilled and multilingual workforce, making it an attractive destination for businesses requiring professional talent. The emphasis on education and training ensures a steady pipeline of professionals equipped to support diverse business needs.
Malta’s Tax Regime
Malta stands out for its highly advantageous corporate tax framework making it one of the most competitive jurisdictions in Europe. Whilst the headline corporate tax rate is set at 35%, the Malta Refundable Tax Credit System allows shareholders to benefit from a 6/7th’s tax refund upon a distribution of dividends. This effectively reduces the corporate tax rate to just 5%, among the lowest in the EU.
Malta’s full imputation system of dividend taxation eliminates the risk of double taxation. Corporate profits are taxed only once, since any tax paid by the company is credited in full against the personal tax due on dividends received by shareholders.
Malta’s extensive network of Double Taxation Treaties coupled with unilateral double tax relief measures further reduce tax exposure for businesses with international operations, ensuring seamless global business interactions.
Malta’s Advanced Modern and Legal Regulatory Framework
Malta’s modern and transparent regulatory system is designed to support innovation and foster a business-friendly environment. Combining elements from both common law and civil law systems, Malta offers a unique legal landscape that provides certainty and efficiency for entrepreneurs and businesses.
The regulatory framework is particularly attractive to maritime companies and lenders, offering robust protections like security by title transfer or mortgage. The streamlined legal processes, including the use of security trustees, minimize bureaucracy and ensure that businesses can operate with confidence and agility.
So, is Malta the Perfect Location to Centre your Maritime Operations?
With its strategic geographic location, competitive tax regime, modern regulatory framework, and advanced infrastructure, Malta is uniquely positioned as a premier hub for maritime operations. Whether you are a shipping company, a logistics provider, or a business requiring access to multiple regional markets, Malta offers unparalleled benefits.
How can Zeta Assist?
At Zeta, we specialize in helping businesses establish and optimize their operations in Malta. From navigating the regulatory landscape to ensuring the most efficient corporate structure for your business, our team provides expert guidance to ensure a smooth and successful transition to Malta’s dynamic maritime ecosystem.
Let us help you seize the opportunities Malta has to offer.
Contact Zeta today to learn more!