Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/835410
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 JUNE 2017 Events 45 The latest wonder in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Meraviglia has been christened in a glittering ceremony by international screen legend and godmost of all of MSC Cruises ships Sophia Loren at Le Havres, France. MSC Meraviglia will be the first MSC cruise liner to fly the Maltese flag. MSC Cruises have just announced that between now and 2024 they will be con- structing 11 new cruise liners of different prototypes, some even of 200,000 tonnes, which will be able to accommodate up to 7,000 pas- sengers. All cruise liners will be registered in Malta. The 167,000 tonne cruise liner is the company's new flagship with a passenger capacity of 5,714 and the biggest ship to be built by a Euro- pean ship owner. MSC Meraviglia has chosen Malta as one of its main ports of call and will sail into Mal- ta's Grand Harbour on Wednesday 14 June and will be cruising around the Mediterranean from Malta on a weekly basis till 15 Novem- ber bringing over to Malta over 150,000 passengers. MSC Merav- iglia will give the unique weekly opportunity to 170 Maltese holiday makers to cruise around the Medi- terranean from Malta to Malta on this largest ever cruise liner to en- ter Malta. "We have an ambitious vision for the future and MSC Meraviglia marks the start of the second phase of growth for our company. This is an extremely proud moment for all of us at MSC Cruises as we see the first of our next-generation ships being names. The new ships that we are building – between 2017 and 2020 alone, we will receive six new ships – are purpose-built, fea- turing innovation in both product and design, as well as the very lat- est-cutting edge marine and con- sumer-facing technology to create unforgettable holiday experiences at sea for guests of all ages. MSC Meraviglia is the first to make this vision come to life, as it sets a new standard for cruise ships as a des- tination in itself." said Pierfranc- esco Vago, MSC Cruises' executive chairman told journalists in Le Havre. The crowning moment of the evening at Le Havre was the pa- rade of the ship's officers, when Sophia Loren cut the ribbon and named MSC Meraviglia to a time- honoured crescendo of cham- pagne and fireworks. Mrs. Loren has held a close relationship with MSC Cruises for over a decade, when she first became godmother of MSC Lirica, in 2003. Mrs Loren has held a close relationship with MSC Cruises for over a decade blessing each and every MSC ship reflecting MSC Cruises' belief not only in loyality, but also in Loren's unique beauty, talent and elegant style, the same elements that dis- tinguish every aspect on board all MSC Cruises ships. Hamilton Travel are MSC Cruis- es' exclusive representatives in Malta. One may call 21241292 or contact Hamilton Travel by mail on info@hamiltontravel.com.mt for further information. Mediterranean Ceramics has launched a new, customer centric website, in line with its ethos to satisfy the needs of their local and international customers. The new website offers easier and quicker access to essential information about the company, with a clear visual element of all products on offer. With a classic and colourful design, the website makes it easier to learn about the different products on offer, in- cluding specific sections for the popular volcanic stone kitchen counters and table tops. The website also provides detailed images of each specific product and gives detailed information on the materials used. "Our main aim is to attain long term client preference as a manufacturer and promoter of hand crafted ceramics ref lect- ing Mediterranean character. Through our newly launched website, we believe that we are improving and streamlining our offering and providing our cus- tomers a platform to visually see our unique and artistic product," Mediterranean Ceramics manag- ing director David Grima said. "We tried to understand what our customers were after and re- alised that it is important that the first channel that our customers go to, our website, is responsive, looks good and is easy to view on different devices." Mediterranean Ceramics offer a number of custom designed, hand painted volcanic stone kitchen counters and table tops produced locally by Maltese craftsmen. Volcanic stone, which is impervious makes it possible for any liquid to pass through and for bacteria to grow and therefore ensures top notch hygiene levels for kitchen counters. The finish applied by Mediterranean Ce- ramics also ensures any custom design will not fade due to UV from the sun or aggressive stain removers and therefore both counters and table tops are ideal for both indoor as well as out- door. Table tops come adorned with custom, hand-made designs with an artisan touch inspired by Mediterranean lifestyle and a unique sense of authenticity. The finish on the table tops is able to withstand high temperatures and are scratch-, stain- and frost- proof, making them also ideal for outdoor use. The company also produces a wide array of earthen- ware and ceramic products such as decorative ceramics, house names and signage, household ceramics as well as murals. The prized work produced by Mediterranean Ceramics has also been gifted by the Maltese government to a number of in- ternational leaders such as the President of Germany, Italy, Bul- garia and many others. The newly designed website can be accessed through https://med- iterraneanceramics.com/ and is compatible with mobile devices. Sophia Loren christens MSC Meraviglia Mediterranean Ceramics launches new website Outlook for the Maltese economy 2017-2019 Economic activity in Malta is expected to remain robust over the projection horizon, sup- ported by both demand and supply factors. In particular, the energy reforms that have taken place in recent years, new invest- ment projects, increased labour market participation and robust services exports are the primary drivers supporting the economic expansion. Real GDP growth is projected at 4.4% in 2017. It is then expected to decelerate to 4.0% in 2018, and 3.5% in 2019. As a result, the labour market is projected to remain tight, with the unemployment rate falling further to 4.5% in 2017, before picking up slightly to 5.1% by 2019. Consumer price inflation is expected to pick up this year as the contribution of energy pric- es is envisaged to turn positive. Annual inflation, based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), should rise from 0.9% in 2016 to 1.4% in 2017. It is then projected to trend up to 1.8% by 2019, reflecting a pick- up in international commodity prices and domestic cost pres- sures. In terms of public finances, the general government balance is expected to remain in surplus between 2017 and 2019. Mean- while the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to fall below 50%. More details on the Bank's latest projections can be found on the Central Bank of Malta's website at https://www.central- ba n k m a lt a .org /en/e conom ic- projections. The latest MSC wonder will bring 150,000 passengers to Malta in 2017