After more than ten years leading TradeMalta, Anton Buttigieg has announced his decision to step down as Chief Executive Officer, marking the end of a decade-long chapter that helped define Malta’s international trade promotion landscape.

Buttigieg has been with the organisation since its inception, overseeing its growth from a newly formed agency into the national body representing Maltese businesses abroad. Under his leadership, TradeMalta has played a key role in supporting Malta-based exporters and internationalising enterprises through trade missions, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives.

In his farewell statement, Buttigieg described the experience as “one of the most rewarding” of his professional life, emphasising TradeMalta’s founding purpose — to help Maltese businesses grow internationally — and expressing pride in what has been achieved in pursuit of that mission.

He extended his gratitude to the Government of Malta, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and The Malta Chamber — TradeMalta’s shareholders — for their trust and support throughout the years. Buttigieg also acknowledged HSBC Malta, a long-standing partner of the agency, for its continued collaboration and backing over the past decade.

During his tenure, Buttigieg also represented Malta at a European level as Vice President of Trade Promotion Europe, working with peers from across the continent to promote trade as a driver of prosperity and innovation.

Reflecting on his international work, Buttigieg thanked colleagues and partners from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, noting that their insights and collaboration enriched Malta’s trade engagement beyond Europe.

He concluded by thanking the TradeMalta team — past and present — for their professionalism and commitment to the mission. Though stepping away from his role, Buttigieg reaffirmed his belief in Malta’s global potential and expressed his intention to continue supporting the country’s trade community in new ways.