Visit to Brazil of the Minister of Foreign, and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta, Ian Borg

The Acting Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Paulino Franco de Carvalho Neto received on June 3 the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta Ian Borg at Itamaraty Palace. This is the first visit of a Maltese Foreign Minister to Brazil.
Minister Ian Borg opened the Maltese Embassy in Brasilia, the country's first representation in Latin America. On June 4, he was received by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil and Malta established diplomatic relations in 1975. The reciprocal interest in enhancing political dialogue materialized in 2016 with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conduct of Bilateral Relations and in 2018 with the holding of the first Political Consultation Meeting in Valletta, Malta's capital.
In 2021, the trade flow reached $ 149.1 million (a 22.8% increase compared to 2020), with exports of $ 135.8 million (a 24.8% increase), imports of $ 13.3 million (a 5.6% increase), and a Brazilian surplus of $ 122.5 million. Brazil’s main exports to Malta are petroleum fuel oils. Among the imports, diodes, transistors and medical devices stand out.