Updated | Malta seeks to strengthen ties with UAE

On the margins of the World Government Summit taking place in Dubai, the Maltese delegation held talks with their counterparts on strengthening cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

In a meeting with Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, son of the Abu Dhabi President, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat discussed potential sectors of cooperation and investment, including health and tourism.

Muscat spoke of Malta’s growing economy and investment attracted to the island.

On his part, health minister Konrad Mizzi discussed cooperation on health programmes and initiatives with the health minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdul Rahman Bin Al Mohammed.

The two ministers discussed how to facilitate training programmes on early detection of diseases, exchange of doctors and sharing of their expertise, sending patients abroad for treatment and the further development of the pharmaceutical industry and specialised health and fitness apps for smart phones.

Medical tourism and the upcoming investment in the Maltese health sector were also discussed.

The Maltese delegation is led by Muscat and includes Mizzi, environment minister Leo Brincat, head of civil service Mario Cutajar, OPM permanent secretary Joyce Dimech and MITA's Executive Chairman Tony Sultana.