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15 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2013 A national orchestra concert with a difference, a massive pigeon installation and music echoing all around the capital were some of the highlights of this year's Notte Bianca, as thousands flocked to Valletta's largest cultural event yesterday evening. "Notte Bianca 2013 managed to break its own record and attract more than 70,000 visitors to Valletta," said parliamentary secretary for culture and local government Jose' Herrera. This is the first edition of Notte Bianca since Valletta was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018. Herrera said that this year's edition of Notte Bianca confirms that the decision to include a wide spectrum of artists from all walks of life and focus the programme on particular themes has proved to be successful. "Notte Bianca is a living example of how different art forms can be used in order to generate income and interest in the cultural and creative industries." He thanked all those who helped with the organisation of this event, particularly the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Accompanied by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts chairman Albert Marshall and V.18 chairman Jason Micallef, Herrera visited President George Abela. Together they visited a substantial part of the activities organised in Valletta. "The special trip from Gozo organised with the help of Gozo Channel was another success story, as tickets for this trip were sold out in less than an hour." With over 1,000 participants and over 100 events – from street and performing arts to visual arts and new media, from live music to literature, food and fairs – this year's Notte Bianca managed to retain some of the features which make it so well-loved while introducing a fresh vision and exciting new concepts. This year's festival encouraged collaborations across generations and sectors, including with different gen- PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUDREY LIENARD Record-breaking turnout for Notte Bianca erations of artists, craftsmen, entertainers and cultural practitioners. It also paid tribute to the notion of legacy: a traditional elevated stage or planċier was built in St Lucy Street for the festival's live classical, opera and brass band music programme. This structure will remain even after the festival is over. Other new features included curated music stages, which required bands to play mainly original music and group them ac- cording to genre – as well as the reinvention of a number of locations. The festival kicked off yesterday evening at 6pm with an official opening, complete with coloured smoke and In Guardia troops. A closing breakfast at 2am at the Casino Maltese brought the night to an end. "This has been an amazing experience," said Artistic Director Sean Buhagiar, also known for his theatre work and his most recent project Ċirku Malta, the Maltese circus show at the Malta Arts Festival. "I would like to thank all the people who have made this success possible. It has been a pleasure and an honour for me to work with such a dedicated team." Notte Bianca is supported by The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts Moody's revises Malta's outlook to 'stable', parties squabble over economy Credit-rating agency Moody's upgrades Malta's outlook from 'negative' to 'stable' MOODY'S Investors Service upgraded Malta's outlook to 'stable' from 'negative', citing views that the country's debt will stabilise next year as the economy gathers steam. The rating agency also affirmed the country's A3 government bond rating. The agency's decision to revise the outlook on Malta's sovereign rating was driven by a number of key factors. "The first key driver underpinning today's rating action is Moody's expectation that Malta's government debt metrics will stabilise in 2014, given the country's economic recovery and the newly elected government's commitment to fiscal consolidation," Moody's said in a statement. It pointed out that output growth continued to moderate last year, falling to 0.8% from 1.6 per cent in 2011. Moody's said this subdued pace of growth persisted into the first half of 2013 due to electoral uncertainty. However, real GDP growth is expected to recover, albeit remaining below potential, at 1.3% in 2013 and 2% next year, as domestic demand recovers, underpinned by low unemployment and rising real wages. The credit-rating agency also noted that the 2013, the budget was adopted before the current government fully began operating. Moreover, Moody's underlined the fact that budgetary measures for this year are only likely to take full effect in the second half of 2013, given the delays associated with the recent elections and government transition. However, the authorities remained committed to the medium-term objective of consistently reducing the fiscal imbalance, Moody's said. Moody's also noted "limited contagion risk" from the Eurozone and the resilience of the country's banking system. It pointed out the resilience of the Maltese banking system, with banks following a very conservative and traditional banking model that has not presented problems for the nation, even through the worst of the financial crisis. Standard & Poor's rates the country 'BBB-plus with a stable outlook'. Fitch rates Malta 'A with a stable outlook'. In reaction, the Labour Party said that Moody's conclusion that Malta was moving in the right direction came "just six months after" the party's election to office. Labour welcomed the change in Moody's outlook and the consolidation of the A3 rating for the country's bonds. "This is the fruit of the government's responsible and prudent efforts," the statement said. Moreover, the Labour Party hit out at the previous Nationalist administrations, which claimed to be a safe pair of hands in managing the economy, despite credit-rating agencies' negative outlooks. It added that Moody's report showed the clear difference between the two big parties. On one hand the PN was "negative", and on the other the Labour government was working hard and introducing a number of incentives, which were acknowledged by Moody's. On its part, the Nationalist Party welcomed Moody's report, while pointing out that previous downgrades by another credit-rating agency, Fitch, were down to the government's failure to give timely reassurances on its plans to curb the deficit. "Therefore the PN calls on the government to have a clear economic and job creation policy," the Opposition said. Moreover, the PN insisted that the report indicates that, contrary to what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has claimed, Malta was required to present the EU with a programme of measures to narrow the deficit. Friday, the Finance Minister said that the government would publish the plans presented to the EC on Monday. "The report the government will publish on Monday is not its own plan but the economic partnership programme imposed upon the government by the European Commission, due to the prime minister's bad decisions," the PN said. The opposition spokesperson on finance, Tonio Fenech, pointed out that the EC had pressed the govern- ment to publish these new measures to curb its excessive spending, including the costs of new positions, salaries and perks for Labourites. "The PN hopes that the Maltese people will not be made to pay by suffering cuts in sensitive sectors, including health, social services, education and initiatives aiding industry and businesses – to make good for what was appropriated by the Labour Party faithful." The government was also politically bound to keep its electoral promises, the PN said, including free childcare services, the free delivery of medicines to people's homes, the refund of VAT paid on car registrations and free tablets for students. Procurement and Administrative Executive MCST is seeking two Procurement and Administrative Executives. The successful candidates will be responsible for the management of procurement processes within MCST, in line with Public Procurement regulations. Candidates are expected to have a first degree level of education (MQF level 6) in Management, Leal Studies/Law, Public Administration or Public Policy or an appropriate relevant comparable qualification and 3 years work experience, preferably also having experience in Public Procurement, or, a Master's Degree (MQF level 7) in Management, Legal Studies/Law, Public Administration or Public Policy or an appropriate comparable relevant qualification and 1 year work experience, preferably also having experience in Public Procurement. You are kindly invited to submit your C.V. to mario.g.borg@gov.mt. Applications will be received until Sunday 13 October 2013. ETC Permit Number: 132/2013 MPO Permit Number: MPO/269/2005/04 The Malta Council for Science & Technology is the government body responsible for research policy, promoting scientific research, management of the local research funding programme and is the national contact point organisation for the EU Research Framework Programme (FP). 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