New public-private partnership to coordinate maritime policies

Malta Marittima, a public-private partnership that will coordinate government maritime policies, was launched earlier today.

The agency will be chaired by engineer Marc Muscat, who said at the launch that Malta Marittima will seek to ensure a long-term vision that drives sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sector.

“The Agency will strive to achieve better articulation in its modus operandi, and overcome its challenges so as to create niche economies while contributing towards a sustainable and integrated environment of our seas and their resources,” he said. “The Agency will focus on critical factors that influence sustainable development, and how our competitiveness can be further enhanced through multi-sectoral clustering processes.

The other members of the governing board are PN executive president Ann Fenech from the Malta Maritime Lawyers Association, Malta Freeport Corporation chairperson Aaron Farrugia, Joe Bugeja from the Malta Maritime Forum, Matthew Sullivan, Ernest Sullivan and Alison Vassallo from the Chamber of Commerce, Ivan Sammut from Transport Malta, Andreina Farrugia-Fenech from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Andre Buttigieg from the Regulator of Energy and Water Service,  and Marika Tonna from Malta Enterprise.

Parliamentary secretary for competitiveness Jose Herrera hailed the setting up of the agency as a milestone for Malta.

“An integrated maritime policy has been long in coming since its launch at a European level in 2007, and this Government had committed itself in its manifesto to have this policy launched.”

However, he noted that a lot of work still need to be done, as research has show that the added value that the maritime sector gives the Maltese economy is low when compared to other competing countries.

It currently contributes 5% of Malta’s workforce and 9% of the GDP, not taking into account its indirect economic contribution.

“I am sure, however, that Malta Marittima will tap into the blue economy better and give Malta the cutting edge it needs to become more competitive, create more good-quality jobs, and increase its contribution to the GDP, all in collaboration with the private sector,” he said. “This is in line with the Europe 2020 strategy which has at its core jobs and economic growth.” He concluded by saying that the setting up of the agency is not the end of this project but merely the beginning of a longer term project which seeks to reassert Malta’s position as a leading maritime nation.”