Malta Maritime News
New Malta Marittima agency to bring government and private industry stakeholders together
This morning, the Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth José Herrera launched a new government agency with the name of Malta Marittima, the main aim of which is that of bringing industry and government stakeholders together so as to focus and promote the continued and enhanced development of the marine and maritime industries in the Maltese islands. The event, held at the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu, hosted the main local stakeholders of the industry, namely the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Maritime Forum, and the Malta Maritime Law Association.
The Malta Maritime cluster
According to a study published by Policy Research Corporation in 2008, Malta employs 7,600 people in the traditional maritime sectors, 11,000 people in coastal and sea-related recreational and tourism sectors and 1,400 in fisheries.
These three areas make up for 20,000 jobs out of a working population of 190,000, which represents 10.5 per cent of Malta’s workforce.
If Malta has one infinite resource, this is the sea and, if managed with prudence and wisdom, it is bound to continue generating livelihood for a substantial percentage of the Maltese population and, even then, at an incremental rate.
The pity is that although Malta is, by its very own geographical definition, a maritime nation, with various administrations including its promotion as a maritime centre in their policies, it has not always been the case that due attention and focus were given to this sector.
Malta commemorates World Maritime Day 2015 Maritime Education and Training
During this week, Malta is joining the international maritime community to celebrate the World Maritime Day. Malta commemorates this occasion on the same day as IMO (International Maritime Organisation), on Thursday 24th September 2015.
The theme for World Maritime Day in 2015 as approved by the Council of the Organisation is Maritime Education and Training. The text of a message from the Secretary General of IMO, Mr Koji Sekimizu is enclosed.
This year’s theme was chosen in order to focus on maritime education and training, two areas that are essential for the long-term sustainability of the sector, both at sea and on-shore.
Read more: Malta commemorates World Maritime Day 2015 Maritime Education and Training