Malta Rolls out First Ever Maritime Summit
The first Malta Maritime Summit, an opportunity for international and Maltese stakeholders to raise and discuss common interests, will be held on 3-6 October, ahead of the start of Malta’s presidency of the European Council in January 2017.
The international event that will consolidate the present Government's will to establish the country as a centre of maritime excellence, says Joe Mizzi, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.
Malta has always been a maritime nation as its location has made it historically the most sought after island in the Mediterranean, by traders and world leaders alike.
Minister Joe Mizzi said that the Government is conscious that Malta has a natural potential to act as a centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.
Joe said that the Government, through the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and Transport Malta that continuously supports such events, supports the Malta Maritime Summit 2016.
The conference, to be themed ‘The Voice of the Industry’, will bring together speakers, panellists and delegates from all aspects of the maritime industry to discuss topics such as regulation, operation, safety, the environment, energy and finance.
The decision to organise such an important event in Malta will certainly consolidate Malta's position as a maritime nation with special attention to the regional and international situation, economic and financial, the harbours, maritime markets and investment.
As Malta ranks as one of the leading Ship Registers in the world, Malta has asserted itself as a major player not only in flag State Administration matters but also in other maritime related affairs.
Meanwhile, as at end of 2015, the Maltese Register of Shipping registered an increase of almost 8.3 million gross tonnage representing a growth rate of 14.3% over the previous year. As at end of December 2015, the registered gross tonnage under the Merchant Shipping Act was 66.2 million gross tons.
These statistics represent record figures for the Malta Flag and a significant achievement for Transport Malta, since over 900 ships for a total gross tonnage of over 12 million tons were registered during the year.