NEWS ARCHIVE

Saturday, 30th July 2005 - Malta – A Stepping-Stone To Libya

Contact Person: Jeff Buttigieg - (+356) 9947 5620

Relocating to Libya for business reasons can present a problem where families are concerned. Malta provides the ideal base for the family and RE/MAX Malta can help make this opportunity a reality.

As far as business is concerned, Libya is definitely the place to be at the moment. New opportunities open up every day, offering far more lucrative contracts than a lot of other European openings. Libya’s business and financial sector has become a cosmopolitan hub where influential people from across Europe and the States cross each other’s paths on a daily basis. Now that the US trading sanctions against Libya have been lifted, the majority of corporations and businesses have become aware of the huge potential that this country, so rich in natural resources, offers.

This Libyan business-boom has alternately given rise to both golden opportunities and dilemmas. Many are those who are being faced with a difficult decision: either moving to Libya so as to be part of the ever-growing business hub or else refusing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in order not to move away from their country.

The decision becomes even more difficult when family and kids are involved. The Arab community is well known to be one of the most hospitable and welcoming in the world, however it’s a fact that the European and the American lifestyle are completely divergent from Arab traditions. And it’s only reasonable that when you are a guest in another country you should respect their culture, beliefs and traditions. As the saying goes, when in Rome…do as the Romans do.

This might be easier said than done when it comes to transplanting the wife and kids from a lifestyle they are accustomed to one that is miles away from what they are expecting. Women, especially, would be sure to find the cultural restrictions hard to get accustomed to – in Libya, females do not go around unaccompanied during the day, let alone during the night. Alcohol is illegal, and many of the amusements and distractions that are present in our countries are unknown there.

Of course, refusing a professional opportunity for the above reasons is only likely to lead to regret at a later stage. One ‘solution’ that many businessmen have attempted is to move to Libya on their own, leaving the rest of the family in their own home country and occasionally commuting between the two. The logistical and financial problems with this solution are many. Apart from the obvious disadvantage that having to wait at least a month to see your own wife and children is hardly desirable, commuting between America or mainland Europe and Libya is not exactly easy. Flights are expensive and do not run frequently. Even worse, getting a visa to move to and from Libya is difficult and expensive in itself.

The other, more viable solution is moving the family to Malta. Malta has the privilege to be considered a stepping-stone between Libya and Europe. Relations between the two countries are excellent and the flights are frequent and inexpensive. Getting a visa to travel between Malta and Libya is also easy. A good number of those who have taken up a post in Libya have already opted for this solution and have discovered that it is possible for them to visit their families every weekend.

Besides being very close to Libya, Malta has another tremendous advantage: the European lifestyle and culture, coupled with the fact that it’s one of the safest countries to live in. There is no shock to the system when you move to Malta – the lifestyle is laidback and the attractions are diverse: the nightlife, the al fresco restaurants, the shopping, the heritage sites… all these contribute to making Malta an ideal family-base.

Another plus-point is the infrastructure. A family planning to plant roots in Malta normally has two priorities: the education system and the health system. Malta boasts one of the most advanced education systems in Malta. There is a good range of private schools to choose from which are well attended by the substantial international community that has settled in Malta. The government system is also extremely good, although the Maltese language tends to dominate.

The health system is equally efficient, both in the public and the private sector. A number of private hospitals and clinics are available that meet the most exacting international standards.

Of course, moving country does not come without any hassles. This is where RE/MAX comes to make the transition as smooth as possible. If you’re thinking of relocating, all you have to do is drop RE/MAX Malta an email and let one of their agents know what kind of residence you are after. Malta offers some very good residential opportunities. Appropriate properties in Malta vary from villas with pool, apartments or even apartment compounds with pool. RE/MAX Malta will do all the research beforehand and narrow down the field, so as to make the actual property viewing as hassle-free as possible.

The following will occur after you make your first contact with RE/MAX Malta:

1.) A RE/MAX Malta associate will contact you with a number of questions to narrow down what you are looking for;

2.) Once questions are answered then a list of suitable properties will be sent to the customer;

3.) At this point, if the customer is happy with the general service and the variety of properties sent match the requirements of the customer, depending on when the customer may be visiting Malta, appointments may be set up for viewings. RE/MAX Malta may organise a hotel for the customer (we have preferred inexpensive corporate hotel rates) or we can organise a short term apartment;

4.) RE/MAX Malta would require a good day and a half for viewing properties in order to give customer a good feel of the market and enough information to be able to understand the value one is getting for the money they are spending;

5.) A short list of apartments or villas to let will be viewed and customers make decision. Prices quoted are negotiable and invariably property owners are flexible with additions to their property as well as removing items to suit the customers needs. This will be discussed prior to going into negotiations;

RE/MAX Malta prides itself on offering a full service, including the arrangements of temporary accommodation and picking up the customer from the airport. The schedule of viewings will always be based according to the budget and preferences that the customer will have communicated beforehand in step 1 and 2.

Being in a strange country can be stressful and this is why RE/MAX Malta takes care of non-property related issues as well. We will arrange appointments on your request to show prospective customers not only around properties but also around schools and hospitals, in order that a family can form a clear picture of the standard of living in Malta. Our associates will also smooth over any tax or other legal issues related to the move, in order to make the transition as easy as possible.

As you can see, relocating need not be as stressful as imagined – provided you choose a professional Real Estate agency like RE/MAX Malta that will keep your mind rest assured and give you the attention you deserve. RE/MAX Malta has already, in the past, helped numerous clients make the transition and start a new, happy life. We can do the same with you.