General information
On February 4, 1993, diplomatic relations were established.
Beginning from October 2021, Y.Sembayev, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Italy is concurrently accredited as the Ambassador to Malta (with residence in Rome).
J.Debono has been Ambassador of Malta to Kazakhstan since August 2013 (with residence in Valletta).
Political relations
Cooperation between the two countries is expressed mainly in regular political contacts and consultations of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Italy and Malta (concurrently) with the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, as well as in contacts within international organizations.
On March 28, 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta officially informed the Embassy by note verbal about the ratification of the RK-EU Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The corresponding instrument of ratification was sent to Brussels on March 20, 2018.
Trade and economic cooperation
Trade and economic relations between Kazakhstan and Malta have not yet received significant development for a number of reasons, including geographical remoteness, relative poor knowledge of the benefits of developing ties and investment opportunities in Malta.
Trade turnover between the two countries in 2023 amounted to $2.7 million, of which export from Kazakhstan amounted to $1.1 million, import - $1.6 million.
Almost the entire volume of trade is accounted for oil products exported by Kazakhstan. At the same time, diversification of trade between the countries is difficult for a number of reasons, including geographical remoteness and the comparatively small volume of the Maltese market.
Up to date, 7 small enterprises with Maltese participation are successfully operating in Kazakhstan. The enterprises are mainly engaged in the spheres
of manufacturing industry, trade and scientific and technical activities.
According to the data of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, for the period
of 2016 - to the third quarter of 2023, the gross inflow of investments from Malta to Kazakhstan amounted to more than $13 million.
Official Valletta is closely monitoring the situation around the negotiations between Kazakhstan and the European Union on visa facilitation and positively assesses the Kazakh initiative to introduce a visa-free regime for a number of European countries in 2014. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta does not see Kazakhstan as a migration threat for European countries and assesses the Kazakh side as a reliable and stable partner. The Maltese side declares that there are no fundamental objections to further advancement of the issue of liberalization of the visa regime between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the EU.
At the same time, the expediency of developing bilateral relations is determined by the extensive network of commercial relations of Malta, its developed system of intermediary services, as well as the policy of providing various benefits and preferences for foreign companies.
In general, in order to diversify its foreign trade relations, Malta is interested in developing and deepening trade and economic cooperation with the Central Asian region. First, the Maltese side expresses its readiness to establish mutually beneficial contacts in the field of education and tourism.
The Maltese side also expresses interest in increasing the flow of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who intend to study at higher educational institutions and language schools or stay in Malta for medical purposes.