The MSc Programme allows students to either choose an analytic approach — involving the humanities and social sciences, where the student would learn about player experience, immersion in the game and in-game narrative — or a technology-focused approach which covers game technology, game engines, artificial intelligence (AI) and affective computing (artificial emotional intelligence) to use emotion and biofeedback — the ability for a game to have a subconscious two-way “conversation” with a player via a sensory input device, such as a heart rate sensor for instance — in games.

Digital games are multidisciplinary, something that the institute thrives on since it is impossible to include everything in one institute. “One of our main roles as an institute is to support and deliver our little pieces of knowledge to other faculties; in fact, we have collaborated with the theatre studies department, performing arts, cognitive sciences, built environment and the faculty of ICT,” Jasper Schellekens, a research support officer at the Institute of Digital Games tells Business Malta.

In 2017, the institute held a three-day workshop called GameTales which focussed on interactive fiction and featured talks and workshops from three award-winning narrative fiction authors, Meg Jayanth, Rob Morgan, and Aksel Koie, as well as escape room designer Mink Ette.

Having been ranked as one of the top graduate schools in the world according to The Princeton Review Mr Schellekens elaborates on what he thinks sets the institute apart from other universities. “It is a research-focused institute, meaning that we do not simply teach theory, but we try to implement them and test them, pushing boundaries, whilst also trying to create new ones,” Mr Schellekens tells BM.

“We have to take it incrementally, both the industry and the educational service offered in Malta has to grow in parallel.”

“It is not just simply a game design or game development course, but it crosses between the very academic and the very practical.” Even though it is a heavily academic programme, a huge portion of it focusses on the development and the design aspects of a game. “Having studied both the theoretical and the practical will broaden a student’s career scope; when they enter the labour market with this framework, they will have the skillset to be able to create something different and think outside of the box, slightly breaking the mould from other digital game programmes,” Mr Shellekens says.

Getting to work

A number of international studios are interested in hiring digital games students as interns. The idea came about last year, during the Global Game Jam, which featured Tomasz Kisilewicz, a lead artist at 11 Bit Studios. Furthermore, many graduates opt to start full-time jobs immediately after graduation instead of building international experience by making use of the arguably less lucrative Erasmus traineeships for example.

“They get snatched up as soon as they graduate since there is such great demand in the industry, but there might be certain internships with renowned studios which might be better than accepting a job offer for their CV and for their future contacts within the industry,” according to Mr Shellekens

However, most of the student body that finishes their masters or PhD end up relocating outside of Malta. “Half of our student body is foreign and the majority go back once they finish the course since at the moment the wages are better and the industry is bigger in countries such as, for example, France or Germany.”

Mr Schellekens describes this as a Catch-22 situation, as the industry will settle where good talent to hire is available, but the well-qualified individuals are ready to relocate and go where the industry is booming. “We have to take it incrementally, both the industry and the educational service offered in Malta has to grow in parallel,” Mr Schellekens says.

During the institute’s inauguration, member of parliament Silvio Schembri stated that the government is aiming to position Malta as a major hub for digital games. Mr Schellekens highlights to Business Malta how the institute can support the industry through innovative research and contribute by providing the groundwork of innovation, whilst also supplying students that are able to deliver in more traditional industry roles.

The digital games industry is currently booming, with global eSports revenues expected to reach US$1.8b by 2020, according to Newzoo’s 2019 Global Esports Market Report. “For Malta to be involved in the eSports and digital games sector would be brilliant because there is no need for any natural resources, only infrastructure and a good workforce,” Mr Schellekens tells Business Malta.

The post UM’s digital gaming institute beholds a growing sector first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The project aims to expand Malta’s fashion industry through the purchase of new industrial machinery that would be the first on the island. The bikini brand was established by Ms Carmont more than 20 years ago and has since attracted consumers in Malta, Australia, Singapore and Bali.  

During this time Ms Carmont has been outsourcing the manufacturing of products overseas, and the purchase of new machinery would open new opportunities for fashion manufacturing in Malta. 

“The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise money for the purchase of several industrial Lycra machines that do not exist in Malta. These machines will build my small business, reduce costs, extend the product range, boost our efficiency, guarantee our quality, and offer local customers an ethical and socially responsible clothing option, all by being able to manufacture any products made from Lycra in Malta, rather than overseas,” explains Ms Carmont. “Manufacturing locally will also open new doors of employment for Maltese designers, pattern makers and machinists, as well as employ, educate and support young designers with hands-on experience in the fashion industry here in Malta,” she adds.

The crowdfunding campaign’s total goal of €7,000 will cover the costs of the machinery and if this goal is achieved, Ms Carmont intends to promote other women entrepreneurs with small businesses in Malta.

“Through crowdfunding on such a popular and reliable local platform like Zaar, I hope to connect the project to the people of Malta and show them that by contributing, they will also be boosting other local female-led businesses, as well as Malta’s fashion industry in general,” Ms Carmont adds. 

The campaign will also include a rewards system, featuring products and services supplied by local women-led businesses, to support these women and help them grow their businesses, as they support Ms Carmont’s.

The post Bikini manufacturer launches crowdfunding campaign first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Malta International Airport’s investment in photovoltaic panels allows the airport to contribute to the curbing of CO2 emissions, with structures such as the new 998-kilowatt peak photovoltaic (PV) system, the airport says. The system is located on the airfield and is roughly 2,000% greater than the peak power rating of the average photovoltaic system for the commercial sector for 2018.

In 2018, a PV system with a considerably lower peak power rating than the recently installed system led to the generation of over 602,000 kWh of clean energy, which is approximately equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of 40 average Maltese households, the airport says. A PV system utilises solar modules that comprise several solar cells generating electrical power.

Furthermore, the airport has taken up other initiatives to be more environmentally sustainable, such as the gradual replacement of lighting and equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives and the rolling out of a vehicle fleet replacement programme, says the press release. In fact, MLA saw a drop of 12% in greenhouse gas emissions and a decrease of 11.6% in total water consumption in 2018.

Additionally, Malta International Airport has signed Airport Council International (ACI) Europe’s resolution to become a net-zero carbon industry for emissions under its control by no later than 2050. Malta International Airport is also a member of ACI’s Carbon Accreditation Programme at the mapping level.

The post MLA invests €1.2m in PV panels first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Schembri praised Malta’s digital transformation, which he said is supported by the expansion of the institute. Digital gaming is an area that has to be explored further, to see how the vertical can support the island nation’s economy, he said, adding that the government is aiming to position Malta as a major hub for this sector.

The parliamentary secretary also said that the government is looking at video game development holistically, and the expansion of the institute is the next appropriate step toward further supporting the sector. He also ensured the university of the government’s “full support” for its efforts, and praised the UM for its “futuristic mindset”.

Mr Schembri also mentioned the potential that eSports can deliver to the country. Global eSports revenues are expected to break the glass ceiling of US$1.1b in 2019, increasing by a year-on-year 27%, chiefly fuelled by revenues from advertising, sponsorship and media rights to competitive video gaming, according to a report by Reuters.

Educational programmes are now following a multidisciplinary route, making it possible for game developers and scientists to come together with professionals from other areas such as humanities and work on developing games together, Professor Georgios Yannakis, Director of Institute of Digital Games said during the opening of the new premises.

Games are more than just profit and entertainment, they have pushed other technological innovations — such as better hardware solutions and faster internet connectivity –, which is why the university puts special emphasis on the institute, said Professor Alfred Vella, Rector of the University of Malta. The university aims to create future programmes, which will fit better to the needs of now and the future, Mr Vella added.

“We have a thirst for talent and want to work closely with the sector in order to enhance the digital gaming ecosystem and also attract peak talent to Malta. The scale of opportunities is enormous,” the rector added.

The post UM opens new premises of Malta’s Institute of Digital Games first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

In 2018, the Maltese government was one of the first countries in Europe to have passed the legislation for the production of medical cannabis. Since then, Malta Enterprise, the economic development agency of the island nation, says that it has signed over ten letters of intent with companies who would like to set up a manufacturing base in Malta and start exporting medical cannabis products from the island. Malta Enterprise was unable to share the names of the companies it had signed letters of intent with on Business Malta’s enquiry, as the Business Promotion Act and Malta Enterprise Act stipulate that such information cannot be shared with third parties.

Malta Enterprise is an avid promoter of the island, globally, and offers instant support for companies looking this way. “Being in continuous contact with our companies gives us the opportunity to listen and act fast on suggestions put forward by the operators within the sector,” Malta Enterprise tells BM. “From the already established pharmaceutical and life sciences sector and the attractiveness of medical cannabis industry in Malta, it is clear that Malta is seen by many companies as a potential central hub from where to supply Europe and elsewhere with very high-quality pharmaceutical products.”

The island nation’s efforts in the area are visible globally. “Malta has a long history of claiming and supporting nascent industries and cannabis is clearly no exception,” points out David Attwood, Head of Consultancy at Prohibition Partners — a consultancy firm for independent data, intelligence and strategy for the international cannabis market. “Market forecasts are always difficult to predict but Malta’s pro-business framework and liberal legislation definitely helps position the country to benefit from the emerging cannabis market,” Mr Attwood tells BM.

With its 316 sqkm and a population of around 460,000, Malta’s medical cannabis market is rather limited in size, hence companies are looking to set up in Malta to primarily fuel their proposed export operations from the island, into neighbouring markets.

“Liberal cannabis policy and pro-business frameworks are helping position Malta as a market of interest for investors, operators and importers.”

“Liberal cannabis policy and pro-business frameworks are helping position Malta as a market of interest for investors, operators and importers,” Mr Attwood says. “Despite being a domestic small market, Malta is able to offer expertise in pharmaceuticals, cultivation licences and export potential to the rest of Europe, which is a lucrative opportunity for the international cannabis producers,” adds Mr Attwood.

“After the ‘Production of Cannabis for Medicinal Use Act’ was introduced, Malta received an influx of investment from foreign firms hoping to gain a foothold in the European market. Certainly, the big Canadian firms have shown an interest, hoping to gain access to the European medical market,” Mr Attwood says.

Setting up shop

Some companies have already come to light about their intentions related to establishing an operations arm in Malta. MGC Pharmaceuticals, who will be opening their pharmaceutical division in Ħal Far, for instance, told Business Malta that they were approached by Malta Enterprise to come to the island.

“The first thing that directed our attention to the island was an email from Malta Enterprise. They did an excellent job of analysing the market and reaching out to mature, responsible companies in order to build the industry here correctly,” Nativ Segev, Founder and Director of MGC Pharmaceuticals, tells BM. “Once we made contact, we started looking at the island more closely, from several perspectives: geography, operating conditions, financial implications — just to mention a few —, and we found nothing wanting in comparison to other European countries. At the same time, we have experienced a very welcoming local mechanism for assisting us in various ways,” he adds.

Other companies such as Mera Cannabis and MPX International have been attracted to Malta due to its strategic geographical location and already existing pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturing sector.

“Malta has had an established licencing process around cannabis production,” W. Scott Boyes, chairman president and CEO of MPX International (MPXI) tells Business Malta. “When we made our move into Malta in 2018, Germany and Denmark were the only two other countries with this type of regulatory infrastructure in place. The transparency and clarity that this type of structure has provided us with the confidence to move forward and now we are creating another first-mover advantage for MPXI and will be one of the first companies to be producing, selling and exporting medical cannabis products in and from Malta to the rest of Europe,” Mr Boyes adds.

“The Maltese government is determined to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the medical cannabis market in Europe.”

“The Maltese government is determined to play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the medical cannabis market in Europe. These products require additional processing and manufacturing, so having these capabilities within the European Union will allow for more efficient manufacturing and distribution,” Emily Ondercin-Bourne, Marketing Manager of Mera Cannabis, tells BM. Mera Cannabis (formerly known as Avana) says it will be focussing on more patient-friendly intake methods, such as capsule, topicals and sublingual products. This will require additional processing and manufacturing, making Malta the best choice for the European distribution of such products, Ms Ondercin-Bourne adds.

Malta Enterprise, furthermore, aspires to make Malta a research centre for medical cannabis, focussing on product development, new therapeutic strains, new product formulations, and clinical research, as Business Malta has learnt.

MGC Pharmaceuticals aims to focus on its clinical products and believes that in the coming years, pharmaceutical solutions will change the paradigms of global treatment. MGC intends to put Malta at the forefront of innovation and research globally, according to Mr Segev. “MGC Pharma’s facility will be one of the first commercial EU-GMP grade production and research facilities in the country within the medical cannabis sector,” the MGC founder adds.

“The facility will expedite the development of expertise for cannabinoid-derived medicines and research in Malta with subsequent products to be delivered into the European Union and global markets, which because of Malta’s location, trade agreements, and low corporate taxation, become easier for MGC to access,” says Mr Segev.

Similarly, MPX International aims to change attitudes and perceptions toward the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) — an ingredient in the focus of a new area of cannabis research, and becoming trending in the natural products industry — as a wellness product. “By creating first-mover advantages in markets such as the European Union through initiatives like our Malta operations, we are positioning the company and its brands to be some of the first contacts with medical cannabis products that many Europeans may have,” Mr Boyes tells BM. “We believe this strategy will create strong brand awareness and loyalty, helping us capture market share and helping drive the company’s success.”

MPX International has also partnered with Bortex who will oversee their day-to-day operations and provide on-the-ground expertise once MPXI’s manufacturing facility in Valletta is operational. The approximately 110 sqm facility was previously owned by a Maltese pharmaceutical company specialising in GMP packaging and distribution.

“With a combined population of more than 740 million, Europe represents an extremely large and relatively untapped market.”

“We expect to be producing more than 90 different product SKUs [stock-keeping units] for export to legal medical markets across Europe. With a combined population of more than 740 million, Europe represents an extremely large and relatively untapped market and we are working to become one of the first go-to brands there,” continues Mr Boyes. MPX International will be producing GMP-certified finished medical cannabis products under the Salus Biopharma brand, MPX International’s pharma-grade medical cannabis company.

Mera Cannabis will use the Maltese facility to supply the broader EU medical market and leverage CannaWay Clinic, its domestic network of medical clinics, to establish access to medical cannabis in countries that do not have the medical expertise or infrastructure. “The European production facility will process imported crude cannabis oil into medical products such as tinctures, capsules, topicals or strips,” Ms Ondercin-Bourne tells Business Malta.

Supplying Europe

“Malta — having been one of the first to regulate — will be able to become a key player in supplying the European Union with very high-grade pharma product produced under GMP conditions through the regulator of the production of medical cannabis products in Malta; the Malta Medicines Authority,” Malta Enterprise says. The Malta Medicines Authority is one of the first eight inspectorates outside the United States to be recognised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Mera Cannabis expects the European market to evolve following a similar trajectory to the Canadian medical market. “Our experience in the medical market in Canada through CannaWay Clinic has taught us how to work with physicians and what is required to adopt medical cannabis treatment plans as part of a larger approach to healthcare. We plan to replicate this approach in countries where governments are supportive of medical cannabis but need help providing access to patients in a responsible and physician-driven way,” says Ms Ondercin-Bourne.

Furthermore, MPX International also suspects that the European market will continue to open up much like that in the United States or Canada. “We will continue to see countries explore, vote on and adopt both medical and recreational legislation in some form. Already, CBD is legal in 27 European countries and that number will likely rise. With the normalisation of cannabis and the social justice and economic benefits that are associated with its legalisation, that is how we see things continuing to evolve,” Mr Boyes tells BM. “And we also believe that MPXI is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this fragmented market; we have significant experience building a successful enterprise over multiple jurisdictions with our recently divested US business and we are going to do it again in Europe,” he adds.

Mera Cannabis also believes that as research continues to grow and as more medical professionals approve of medical cannabis, insurance companies will broaden their coverage to facilitate the use of such solutions.

Nevertheless, Prohibition Partners tells Business Malta that Europe will most likely not adopt from the North American dispensary model, as citizens and medical professionals expect a highly-standardised and regulated pharmaceutical-style product, supplied by specialist distributors.

“The European market will diversify and specialise over the next decade but Malta could well become an important hub for import and processing if it manages to establish a clear process and plan for exports to the rest of the European Union,” adds Mr Attwood.

Tight competition on horizon

Although Malta is an early adopter in terms of medical cannabis, other countries are also courting the vertical and therefore, competition might be high. “Germany, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Italy have all discussed the domestic cultivation with a view to supplying the European market, while Luxembourg has promised to introduce a regulated adult-use market before 2023, hence they could all be competitors to Malta,” Mr Attwood tells Business Malta.

“Keep your eyes on Germany as a huge market, Portugal and Spain are beginning to get their act together […] but they will have a lot of work to catch up with countries like Malta .”

“Keep your eyes on Germany as a huge market, Portugal and Spain are beginning to get their act together, so in the not too far-off future all the major EU countries will have a stake in growing this industry; but they will have a lot of work to catch up with countries like Malta who have been ahead of the curve,” Mr Segev of MGC tells Business Malta.

To date, Malta Enterprise has approved 20 projects within the medical cannabis sector. Once operational, it is estimated that these projects will create over 700 new full-time jobs and supplement Malta’s exports by over €900m by 2022, Malta Enterprise tells Business Malta.

MPX International will take onboard staff who previously worked with Alphafarma and are certified in various quality control assurance standards required for the facility to acquire its final GMP manufacturing authorisations. The company expects to employ an additional 30 full-time staff members.

Mera Cannabis expects to hire approximately 20 employees and aim to grow their corporate team and their team at CannaWay Clinic.

MGC Pharmaceuticals forecasts hiring about 30 employees in its initial period and plans to grow and expand as its global distribution network grows.

Eyeing Africa?

Due to Malta’s geographical vicinity not only to Europe but also Africa, the highly-logical question of whether medical cannabis firms would eye supplying the mother continent with their products also arises.

MPX International intends to supply the African market as long as medical cannabis is prescribed correctly and is regulated under a reasonable programme. “Our mission at MPXI is helping patients in need have access to safe and effective cannabis medicine,” says Mr Boyes. “We will supply any country that has a responsible and legal programme in place, and doctors who are properly educated on prescribing the products. We have a JV in South Africa which is currently awaiting a licence from SAHPRA [South African Health Products Regulatory Authority] to produce medicinal cannabis, so we already have a presence on the continent.”

Furthermore, MGC looks to expand wherever medical cannabis is required. “We look at the global market and intend to have our products everywhere they are needed,” says Mr Segev. “MGC has a global research and development agenda that spans multiple continents and is always seeking interesting relationships and geographies to develop. As noted earlier, this is a global opportunity which Malta has been wise to be prescient about, but the rest of the globe is now waking up and the interest is everywhere,” Mr Segev says.

Nevertheless, Ms Ondercin-Bourne of Mera applies more caution when making a prognosis about the African market. “At this point in time, present healthcare systems are extremely limited and often rely on charities or other donors to local healthcare industries. As we continue to refine our approach to expansion, particularly with our clinic network, we will always have countries who wish to obtain better access to medical cannabis on our radar,” she says.

Alexandra Curley, Head of Insights at Prohibition Partners, earlier told Business Malta that Malta is most likely to supply Europe, and not Africa. “Despite its geographical proximity to Africa, I think it is unlikely that Africa will become an export market for Malta. Cannabis, both recreationally and medically, is still illegal in the vast majority of Africa and the three nations with legal medical frameworks (Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa) have plans to develop domestic markets,” Ms Curley said.

The post Medical cannabis companies could raid Malta to fuel European expansion first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The original features of his office will remain well retained, the company says. Significant items related to the setting up and development of the business, such as Mr Abela’s first business ledger and photos highlighting important moments from his life are showcased. Furthermore, items such as Mr Abela’s recently discovered school exercise book from 1966, showing his ability in translating excerpts from Julius Caesar’s De Bello Gallico from Latin into English at the age of 14, are also exhibited.

“What we admire most about our father are his values together with his clear vision and sense of purpose in life. He never shied away from taking difficult decisions when certain situations demanded such actions,” said Roderick Abela, Nectar’s Chief Executive Officer.

“After building the business literally from scratch and putting it on firm foundations, he has bequeathed us with a cherished legacy that we treasure both as a family and a business. Therefore, we decided to develop his office into a memorial room to celebrate his life and his legacy for many years to come,” the CEO added.

“Our main goals are to meet clients’ demands as well as to always look to better ourselves. Nevertheless, we must never lose sight of how our business was established. Therefore, the conversion of our founder’s office into a memorial room ensures that all those who are linked to the company, as well as clients that visit us, will always remember our founder and the hard work that went into building this organisation,” said Carlos Abela, Nectar’s Chief Commercial Officer.

The post Nectar Ltd to set up memorial room for late founder first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“As part of our strategy to further promote culture and arts, Teatru Manoel has put a lot of effort into putting baroque at the foreground of the island’s cultural activity with the Valletta International Baroque Festival and performances throughout the year, not only in Valletta but also around the island,” said Owen Bonnici,  Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government.

These instruments include an 1888 Broadwood piano, which has undergone restoration funded by the Friends of the Manoel. The straight strung piano showcases the different registers of the instrument with clarity. The Friends of the Manoel were represented by Carmen Gatt Baldacchino with two of Mr Debono’s heirs: Marie Cabourdin and Paul Debono in attendance.

Two Viola da Gambas were also acquired. This is a bowed string instrument which is played similarly to a cello and made its first appearance in Europe in the late 15th century, before becoming one of the most widely-used instruments in the Renaissance and Baroque period, says the press release. 

Furthermore, the baroque cello, which is typically larger than a standard cello characterised by a lower sound was also collected, along with two clavichords, a rectangular stringed keyboard instrument largely used in the Late Middle Ages, all the way through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical Eras.

The Broadwood piano will be the first of the instruments to feature in a Teatru Manoel Concert on Wednesday 13th November at 20:00, with a Mozart Concert by Ensemble DeNote. The concert is supported by the Friends of the Manoel and held in memory of the George Debono.

The post Teatru Manoel acquires baroque instruments first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The launch will be held from 10:30 to 19:00 at the Institute of Digital Games, where Silvio Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation will inaugurate the premises. Furthermore, Gabriel Robert, Lead Gameplay Programmer at Ubisoft will be speaking on the impact research has on innovation in games.

The institute will explain the key focus-areas of its education and showcase research on digital games done by their faculty and the University of Malta more broadly, which is critical for economic development as evidenced by the national video games and eSports strategy, says the press release. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the institute’s main research areas, which overlaps with aspects of Malta’s National AI Strategy. 

A series of workshops covering musical behaviour in games, the player-avatar relationship in virtual reality, and affective computing (emotion AI) will be open to the public from noon on. Quick-fire talks on digital game-related work and research done throughout the university as a whole will follow. 

Local game industry studios such as Dorado Games, Exient, Playmagic and Might Box will present projects that they are currently working on and will answer questions on practical aspects of career guidance. 

“We’re excited to see a growing and dynamic games industry in Malta that our students can participate in and contribute to. Our inauguration gives us an opportunity to highlight this and we’re proud to show the educational and research role of our Institute to the general public,” said Prof Georgios Yannakakis, Director of the Institute of Digital Games.

Registration for the whole-day event is required as space is limited.

The post UM’s Institute of Digital Games to open new premises on 25 September first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The event forms part of the Castello Lanzun Lecture Series and will take place at Castello Lanzun, Triq is-Santwarju, Mensija, San Ġwann on Thursday 26 September at 7:30 pm. The fee is €20 per person and the funds raised will go toward purchasing an ambulance for Women in Need, who work to improve the lives of underprivileged women and children in India.

Seating at the event is at a first come first served basis, therefore, attendees are required to contact Chancellor Alan Miller to reserve a seat, by no later than 24 September.

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“We are excited to be one of the few businesses working with Canadian producers to bring Canadian medical cannabis products into Germany. Mera not only provides access to a high-quality product but a long-term strategy for growth in the medical market in Germany and across Europe,” David Höhne, Chief Executive Officer of HerbaMedica.

With a population of over 83 million and wide-spread statutory health insurance, Germany is expected to become a European powerhouse for medical cannabis. Mera’s facility in St Thomas, Ontario is designed to adhere to EU-GMP standards, as part of the company’s international development strategy. Mera expects to sell the majority of its outputs from its domestic facilities to growing international medical markets.  

“With partners like HerbaMedica, Mera has the opportunity to capitalise on its experience and insights acquired through domestic operations and utilise that knowledge in the European Union. This agreement marks a significant milestone for both parties and will help bridge the gap between supply and demand in Germany,” says Zubin Jasavala, Chief Executive Officer of Mera. 

The obligations of the parties following the supply agreement are conditional upon, among other things, each of the parties obtaining all necessary licenses and authorisations, including import/export permits and EU-GMP certification, says the press release.

Canadian medical cannabis firm Mera, formerly known as Avana, is expected to set up operations in Malta this year. The company considers the island nation in the Mediterranean to become a key player in its European expansion strategy.

“As part of our larger strategy to enter European medical cannabis markets, our upcoming Maltese facility will act as our cannabis processing and manufacturing hub. We will be importing crude oil into Malta to process into medical products such as tinctures (oils), gel capsules, sublingual strips and topicals (creams),” Emily Ondercin-Bourne, Marketing Manager at Mera Cannabis Corp, told Business Malta earlier.

The post Mera signs supply agreement with German distributor first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.