Relevance

Inward Foreign Affiliates Statistics (Inward FATS or IFATS) describe the activity of affiliates resident in the compiling country.  Inward FATS produces statistics on the number of enterprises, turnover, production value, value added at factor cost, total purchases of goods and services, purchases for resale, personnel costs, gross investment in tangible goods, and number of persons employed of such foreign affiliates.  These are aggregated by NACE and the country of the Ultimate Controlling Institute (UCI).  Such statistics are compiled under European Framework Regulation (EC) No. 716/2007.

Methodological description

Data for Inward FATS is compiled from the SBS (Structural Business Statistics) survey for those enterprises or branches resident in Malta that are under foreign control.  It compiles data for NACE Sections B to N and NACE Division S95. Data for NACE Section K is compiled externally from administrative sources.  Data from these sources is obtained via email.  NACE Rev. 2 is used to for the NACE classification whereas ISO codes are used for the country of the UCI.  Monetary variables are expressed in thousands of Euros whereas number of enterprises and number of persons employed are expressed in units.  Inward FATS data is compiled on a yearly basis. 

Accuracy and reliability of data

Since data for Inward FATS is compiled from SBS data, all quality measures would have been implemented to finalise SBS data.  Information on the accuracy and reliability of SBS data can be viewed in a dedicated ESMS metadata report available on the NSO’s metadata website.  Data for NACE Section K is checked to ensure that the data is realistic and consistent with previous years.  Prior to transmission, data is also checked for consistency by means of Eurostat’s EDIT tool. 

Timeliness and punctuality of data

Data for Inward FATS for reference year N is transmitted to Eurostat by the end of August of year N+20 months (20 months from the end of the reference year), so as to satisfy the requirements of the Regulation mentioned above. 

Accessibility and clarity of data

Inward FATS data can be accessed from Eurostat’s database.  A quality report is transmitted to Eurostat 26 months from the end of the reference year (N+26 months).  An ESMS metadata report is updated yearly and published on the NSO website.

Coherence and comparability/consistency of data

Inward FATS was compiled on a mandatory basis as from reference year 2007.  A change in the NACE classification was brought about from reference year 2008 with the introduction of NACE Rev. 2.  Inward FATS data has been collected in a consistent manner as from reference year 2009.  Data is also comparable to that of the other Member States since all requirements and recommendations laid down by in the Regulations are met.  The variable values for the group codes representing the EU Member States and the non-EU Member States may not be comparable between reference year 2013 and the previous reference years, due to Croatia becoming an EU Member State in 2013.  Inward FATS data is coherent with SBS data since the same weighting structure and variables are used.

Metadata​