Most industrial activities need to be licensed for a variety of different reasons such as public health and safety, or to reduce the risk of pollution.
Local government is the only body that currently issues licenses for commercial activities. Building licenses and user licenses for private works are governed by legislation, specifically legislation on regional planning and urban construction.
Some activities that require licensing:
We highlight here some of the most relevant legal aspects of companies in Malta.
The company must appoint a secretary who may be a natural person of any nationality or a company. The law does not require the Secretary to be a Maltese resident, but it is advisable, given their duties and responsibilities.
The shareholders are members of the general meeting. They will decide on all matters for which they are legally competent or as set out in the company’s Articles of Association. They can also make management decisions, if deemed necessary.
Private limited companies are managed and run by one or more managers/directors, while public limited companies are managed and run by two or more managers/directors. They must be named in the articles of association or appointed (and dismissed) later by shareholder resolution.