Month: January 2023

Il-Gvern Malti se jkun qed jibgħat 20 generator industrijali flimkien ma’ tagħmir mediku lill-Ukrajna, bħala għajnuna umanitarja fl-isfond tal-gwerra li qed jgħix il-poplu Ukren. Dan permezz tal-mekkaniżmu Ewropew għall-Protezzjoni Ċivili, li permezz tiegħu pajjiżna qed joffri għajnuna umanitarja b’urġenza.

Fi żjara mill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela u mill-Ministru għall-Intern, is-Sigurta, ir-Riformi u l-Ugwaljanza Byron Camilleri li għamlu fil-kwartieri tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili f’Ħal Far, setgħu jsegwu l-aħħar preparamenti sabiex fil-jiem li ġejjin din l-għajnuna, b’valur ta’ aktar minn €370,000, tibda triqitha lejn l-Ukrajna.

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela qal li Malta se tibqa’ tibgħat sinjal ċar ta’ appoġġ u turi solidarjetà mal-poplu Ukren f’dan iż-żmien diffiċli. Bħala membru fil-Kunsill tas-Sigurtà tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti, Malta se tkompli titkellem favur il-paċi u t-tmiem tal-gwerra fl-Ukrajna.

Min-naħa tiegħu, il-Ministru għall-Intern, is-Sigurtà, ir-Riformi u l-Ugwaljanza Byron Camilleri qal li b’din l-għajnuna d-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili qed jerġa’ jikkonferma l-irwol importanti tiegħu, li mhux biss jassisti u jsalva persuni f’pajjiżna, iżda wkoll jikkordina għajnuna tal-Gvern Malti lil poplu ieħor fi bżonn l-assistenza.

Il-generators ġew iffinanzjati mill-Ministeru għall-Intern, is-Sigurtà, ir-Riformi u l-Ugwaljanza, mill-Ministeru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża u mill-Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin u Ewropej u l-Kummerċ flimkien mal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ San Lawrenz, Għawdex. Dan filwaqt li t-tagħmir mediku ġie ffinanzjat mill-Ministeru għas-Saħħa.​

Fi żjara fil-Kumpless Sportiv ta’ Bormla, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela tkellem mal-amministraturi ta’ Sport Malta dwar l-investiment li qed isir fis-settur sportiv, kemm fl-atleti kif ukoll fil-faċilitajiet sportivi. Bi tħejjija għal-Logħob tal-Pajjiżi ż-Żgħar li se jsiru f’Malta iktar tard din is-sena, il-gvern investa €5 miljun fit-taħriġ tal-atleti kif ukoll miljuni ta’ ewro oħra fit-titjib tal-faċilitajiet. Qed isir investiment ukoll f’numru ta’ faċilitajiet li jmorru lil hinn mil-Logħob tal-Pajjiżi ż-Żgħar.

Il-Prim Ministru kellu ċans jiltaqa’ ma’ wħud minn dawn l-atleti li spjegaw kif qed jitħejjew għal dawn il-Logħob u anke fissru l-entużjażmu li jeżisti fost il-komunità sportiva lokali għal din l-opportunità. Filwaqt li awgura lil dawn l-atleti, il-Prim Ministru radd ħajr lit-tim ta’ Sport Malta tax-xogħol li qed jagħmel taħt id-direzzjoni tal-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni u l-Isport. Fl-istess żjara, il-Prim Ministru kellu wkoll iċ-ċans li jżur il-pixxina tal-ogħla livell li se ssir parti mill-kumpless u li se tkun waħda mill-aqwa faċilitajiet sportivi fil-pajjiż.

Il-pixxina hi tad-daqs Olimpiku ta’ 5,000 metru kwadru, b’tul skont ir-rekwiżiti mill-Federazzjoni Internazzjonali tal-Għawm u se tkun mgħammra bl-aħjar teknoloġija fosthom dik tal-bulkheads. Il-ħtieġa li l-isport ikun parti integrali mill-ħajja ta’ kull ċittadin hija wkoll ċentrali fil-politika tal-gvern, tant li l-ħsieb hu li l-faċilitajiet ikunu aċċessibbli kemm jista’ jkun. Fil-fatt, fil-kumpless sportiv, il-Prim Ministru kellu ċ-ċans isegwi attivitajiet sportivi għal tfal ta’ età ċkejkna organizzati minn skejjel differenti f’dawn il-faċilitajiet.​

“We are working hard to continue enhancing the reputation of our country and economy overseas”. Prime Minister Robert Abela stated this during his address to the honorary consuls during the exchange of new year greetings held at Auberge de Castille.

During his address, the prime minister hailed the work done by the honorary consuls as highly important and of key significance to citizens away from their home country. The prime minister also discussed Malta’s economic recovery, which was enabled further via Malta’s strong links overseas, together with Malta’s strong and stable regulatory environment.

Dr Abela said that government worked tirelessly to ensure the economy grows and businesses expand further thus creating prosperity and improve the quality of life to our citizens. In this vein, trade promotion and commercial diplomacy remained central to the work carried out, including that by the honorary consuls who play a crucial role in exploring new trade links through their wide-ranging network of contacts. The Prime Minister added that last year Malta confirmed its participation in the Expo 2025 to be held in Osaka, Japan.

The prime minister highlighted Malta’s role as an elected member on the United Nations Security Council. “Malta is in a strong position to convey a clear message in favour of international peace”, he stated in his address to the honorary consuls. Next month, Malta will be presiding the UN Security Council and will be organising numerous high-level meetings on climate change and about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The prime minister referred to the projects organised by the Maltese Government together with the diplomatic and consular representations overseas aimed at promoting Malta’s identity in various fora overseas, with cultural diplomacy being central to this effort. Furthermore, the government continued to work hard to facilitate the implementation of visa representation agreements with other member states in the Schengen Area.

The prime minister concluded his address by thanking the honorary consuls for their sterling service and augured that their hard work will continue to contribute greatly to Malta’s prosperity.

At Auberge the Castille, Prime Minister Robert Abela met with the Diplomatic Corps for the exchange of new year greetings. During this customary event which takes place at the beginning of a new year, Prime Minister Robert Abela addressed ambassadors accredited to Malta and emphasised that the international community must be bold and stand ready to show its concern when international peace is threatened.

The Prime Minister commented, “It is this spirit that we take with us as we start our term as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council”. He added that this is Malta’s opportunity to contribute to the safeguarding of the UN charter built particularly on the principles and values of peace. In the context of the war in Ukraine, Dr Abela remarked that as a neutral country, Malta’s aim is to work towards peace. The Prime Minister also highlighted the European Union’s unity in showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, together with the unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Dr Abela also outlined that climate change will be a key priority for Malta during its tenure on the United Nations Security Council, and said that the Islands for Islands initiative, which he launched at COP26 in Glasgow, was created to serve as a platform for small island economies to share their realities and best practice in terms of sustainable development. The Prime Minister said that Malta has one of the most vibrant economies in the European Union, registering among the highest economic growth, lowest unemployment, and lowest inflation rates. This is a result of government policies aimed at investing in the people, including the government’s decisive action to shoulder the burden of energy price hikes.

The Prime Minister referred to the trade mission to Ghana taking place next week and highlighted that the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs is now also responsible for trade, as commercial diplomacy is crucial to explore and create new opportunities. The Prime Minister also outlined how trade is a key priority at an EU level, with Free-Trade Agreements (FTAs) with New Zealand and Australia, whilst an ambitious FTA with India would have significant potential for further commercial links with the European continent.

The Prime Minister discussed Malta’s efforts to enhance its diplomatic presence overseas by opening an embassy in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, and by strengthening Malta’s consular network with the opening of more Consulates in strategic cities namely Casablanca, Accra, and Doha. He added that the Mediterranean remains an important region, particularly in terms of cooperation between Mediterranean and EU states, and Malta will be hosting the MED9 meeting for leaders of Mediterranean EU member states meeting later this year.

The Prime Minister said he looks forward to further collaboration and reiterated that Malta will remain an honest and reliable partner in seeking peace, security and prosperity.