SWOT Analysis

A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis revealed the following observations.

Strengths

• Malta has a mature pharmaceutical industry with an adequate manufacturing base and capacity to produce quality drugs. 

• It has a pool of productive, proficient graduates, who are flexible and hard working.

• Facilities are designed in line with EU cGMP requirements and may be inspected and accredited by the local supervising entity, the Malta Medicines Authority.

• Most of the citizens are English-literate or even multilingual.

Weaknesses

• Malta has a very small internal market.

• There appears to be a lack of innovation within the Maltese pharmaceutical industry.

Opportunities

• The Government of Malta funded the BioMalta Life Sciences Park, which offers the potential to blend knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry with the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. 

• The regulatory framework is good and the country embraces the mutual recognition agreement.

• Investment tax credits and financial assistance in the form of soft loans, guarantees, and interest subsidies from Malta Enterprise are available.

• There is a 25% reduction in electricity tariffs for the industry beginning in 2015; the current average kW unit price is €0.15.

• The country has an encouraging legal, political, and social climate and attractive low corporation tax, which embraces the tax imputation system.

• The country is a strategic hub and gateway to continental Europe and the Euro-Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region, with industrial parks located close to Malta’s main shipment and aviation logistic centers.

• Sound financial services are available, which enabled the swift rebound from the international economic turmoil.

• Safe and a good quality lifestyle together with a cultural heritage is second to none.

Threats

• Competition from developing countries is increasing.

• R&D infrastructure and investment are under-developed.

• Transport infrastructure and storage facilities for temperature-sensitive drugs are not readily available.

Article Details

Pharmaceutical Technology
Vol. 40, No.4
Page: 40

Citation
When referring to this article, please cite it as M. Mercieca et al., “SWOT Analysis," Pharmaceutical Technology 40 (4) 2016.