The Double Taxation Treaty between Bulgaria and Malta has been in force since 1988. The two states have frequently held talks and the Bulgarian President visited Malta in 2009. Dr Borg said in a meeting with Bulgarian officials that Malta had backed and assisted Bulgaria join the EU and looked forward to further political and commercial cooperation. Indeed, a cooperation agreement which will govern the growth of relations was signed at the Foreign Ministry in 2009.
The president of Malta, George Abela, visited Bulgaria in May 2011 on the invitation of the Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov. When President Purvanov visited Malta in October 2009, he won Abela's support for Bulgaria joining the Euro zone and the Schengen free visa area. The two heads of state are now set to continue their political dialogue at the highest level and discussed different measures of enhancing bilateral trade and economic co-operation as well promote conditions for more investments. They also signed inter-governmental agreements in the field of transport and the secure exchange of classified information.
Malta is keen to see an improvement in trade exchanges and sees opportunities for Maltese companies to bid for contracts in Bulgaria. A Malta-Bulgarian Business Council Association has been set up and Maltese financiers have begun to invest in Bulgarian property. On the other hand, Malta is also encouraging an increase in tourism, with arrivals from Bulgaria currently just over 5,000 per year.
Malta has 2 honorary consulates in Bulgaria, in Sofia and Varna while Bulgaria is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome, Italy.
[Full List of Malta Double Taxation Agreements]
