Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1521091
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 MAY 2024 NEWS Strengthening EU consultation structures is key for Malta's maritime industry WHILST addressing his fellow members during the recent An- nual General Assembly, Godwin Xerri outlined the key policy pri- orities for the Malta Maritime Forum which it has continued to champion over the past months and will continue to pursue with the objective of registering some meaningful progress. These pri- orities are : 1. The development of a Na- tional Maritime Strategy 2. The setting up of a Mari- time Court 3. The detachment of Mar- itime Malta from Transport Malta 4. The enactment of the nec- essary regulations to lay down standards for shipping agents. Xerri expressed hope that the administrative framework to develop a national maritime strategy will be put in place without further unnecessary delay whilst announcing that Government was working and consulting with the MMF to create a public/private work group that would be responsi- ble to undertake the necessary consultations across the whole industry before articulating the strategy to guide us economic operators over the next decade or beyond. "The Forum will strive to be at the forefront of this activi- ty and to create mechanisms to cover all sectors of this in- dustry" said Xerri, "because we know that attracting new investment and business lines entails strong marketing and a clear vision and strategy as to where we need to get". With regards to the setting up of a dedicated maritime author- ity and the promulgation of the Ship Agency Regulations, Xer- ri recognised that these were challenging goals which were not helped by sudden chang- es at the Ministerial level and the continuous changes within the Authority. He said that the MMF shall continue to elab- orate on the benefits of these objectives with the new incum- bents because it believes that through constructive dialogue the right formula can be found to attain these strategic intents. The Forum Chairman said that "the Maltese Maritime in- dustry is part of an internation- al industry in which we have to compete, innovate and focus. Those of us who are direct- ly involved know what strong competitive challenges we face continuously from other juris- dictions. Our ports are facing challenges from neighbouring non-EU ports which are not constrained by regulations that impede growth. Once again, I reiterate the importance of a clear vision and a realistic strategy especially because our position is strengthened by the presence of prime stakeholders who, notwithstanding our geo- graphical limitations, stand out exceptionally even at interna- tional levels. We are endowed with a surrounding sea that holds huge potential for blue economy activities that can be developed without harming the environment. We have the highest of professional educa- tional entities that are willing and able to train our future generation to take this industry to levels higher than what we have achieved so far" conclud- ed the MMF Chairman. The MMF Annual Gener- al Assembly which took place on 17th May was further ad- dressed by the Forum CEO, Kevin J Borg and two guest speakers - Kenneth Farru- gia, CEO of Bank of Valletta and Col Mark Mallia, CEO of Transport Malta. The latter declared his com- mitment to work closely with the maritime community and said that "Transport Malta's ongoing maritime projects are significantly enhancing our in- frastructure, solidifying Mal- ta's status as a key leader in the maritime industry." On his part, Farrugia outlined the latest initiatives undertak- en by Bank of Valletta to fa- cilitate business and enhance banking relationships with maritime clients. He praised the Malta Maritime Forum for its work and for organizing a a full-day training seminar for the Bank's executives last Feb- ruary with the aim of enhanc- ing mutual understanding be- tween the two highly regulated industries. He underlined the importance of maritime operators embrac- ing ESG practices for both competitiveness and regula- tory purposes especially those which engage with gatekeepers at an international stage. DURING her visit to an exhibition as part of the Mal- ta Biennale at Ġgantija temples, the President of Malta Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono received the of- ficial catalogue of the maltabiennale.art. The President was welcomed in Ġgantija by Mr Mario Cutajar, Chairperson of Heritage Malta and President of the maltabiennale.art. The catalogue's presentation to the President was made as Her Excellency visited the exhibition entitled 'Decolonising Malta: Polyphony is Us' by artist Ibra- him Mahama from Ghana. Mahama's installations include material transformation to touch on issues of migration, commodity, globalisation and economic exchange. Ibrahim Mahama's art is world renowned given his installations in Sydney, Cape Town, Copen- hagen, Tel Aviv and Venice amongst others. Ġgantija's was the second visit by President Spiteri Debono to the maltabiennale.art as the first Maltese biennale continues to attract the attention of inter- national media houses whilst placing Malta on the global map for contemporary art. President presented with Malta Biennale official catalogue