Month: May 2024

• Spazju miftuħ ieħor għan-nies fil-qalba tal-komunità

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela inawgura l-proġett ta’ riġenerazzjoni tal-pjazza u x-xatt tal-Kalkara, xogħol li twettaq mill-Korporazzjoni għar-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir (GHRC). B’dan il-proġett inħoloq spazju miftuħ għall-familji ta’ 16,500m² fil-qalba tal-komunità, żona pedonali ta’ 3,000m² fl-istess pjazza, promenade msebbħa bi street furniture u sistema ta’ dawl aħjar, bandli ġdid u sistema ġodda ta’ servizzi flimkien ma’ siġar imħawla li komplew isebbħu d-dehra tal-qalba tal-Kalkara.

F’indirizz li għamel, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela spjega kif reġgħet inħolqot pjazza li ngħatat lin-nies. Qal li dan kien proġett importanti fost proġetti oħra kbar li għaddejjin fil-Kottonera li dan il-Gvern jemmen fil-potenzjal tagħha. Dr Abela nnota kif din il-parti ta’ Malta qed tiġbed lejha investiment sabiħ bi proġetti ta’ kwalità li jpoġġu lill-familji fil-qalba. F’dan il-kuntest il-Prim Ministru saħaq fuq il-bilanċ fejn xogħol ta’ riġenerazzjoni ma jfissirx li jinħatt dak tal-imgħoddi iżda li jiġu ppreservati l-karatteristiċi.

“Aħna lill-Kalkara rriduha isbaħ imma b’dan infissru wkoll li rriduha tibqa’ bil-karatteristiċi partikolari tagħha,” sostna l-Prim Ministru Robert Abela hu u jinnota kif il-proġett tal-GHRC, li bih ingħatat pjazza oħra lin-nies, ħa naraw post li kien okkupat mill-vetturi issa se jfisser spazju għat-tgawdija tal-familji u fejn ix-xatt hu isbaħ biex jitgawda minn kulħadd. Il-Prim Ministru semma wkoll l-irwol tal-Kunsilli Lokali fix-xogħlijiet importanti li jsiru b’kollaborazzjoni mal-entitajiet tal-Gvern.

Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u r-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir Miriam Dalli qalet li dan hu proġett ewlieni li permezz tiegħu il-Kalkara sbieħet, is-servizzi ġew immodernizzati u ngħata spazju li permezz tiegħu ċ-ċentru tal-lokalità sar tassew il-qalb tħabbat tal-Kalkara. “Proġett li huwa wkoll simbolu tal-impenn tagħna li nkomplu noħolqu aktar spazji miftuħa, fejn il-komunità, il-familji u n-nies jistgħu jiltaqgħu; fejn bl-attivitajiet ekonomiċi u kulturali, noffru mumenti ta’ serħan għar-residenti u anke lil min iżur il-gżejjer tagħna,” sostniet il-Ministru Dalli.

Fl-istess inawgurazzjoni tkellmu wkoll is-Sindku tal-Kalkara Wayne Aquilina u l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-GHRC Gino Cauchi. Is-Sindku Aquilina qal, “Kburi li wasalna s’hawn. Qed inroddu xatt u pjazza mill-isbaħ, lura lin-nies. Proġett li biddel id-dinamika tal-Kalkara u kompla jgħolli l-valur u l-potenzjal tar-raħal. Filwaqt li minn qalbi nrodd ħajr lil kull min kien hemm b’xi mod jew ieħor biex din il-ħolma għall-Kalkariżi saret realtà, qed inħares ’il quddiem biex il-Kalkariżi u l-pubbliku inġenerali jgawdu din iż-żona mhux biss illum, imma fiż-żmien li ġej.” Min-naħa tiegħu, Gino Cauchi sostna li l-GHRC hi kburija bl-implimentazzjoni ta’ dan il-proġett għax illum il-Kalkara għandha xatt mill-isbaħ li diġà beda jiġbed l-attenzjoni ta’ bosta, residenti u min iżuru. “Il-GHRC tinsab impenjata biex tkompli twettaq aktar proġetti ta’ riġenerazzjoni fil-Port il-Kbir”, tenna l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-GHRC.

Seven thousand public officers in industrial, trade and technical grades as well as those known as General Service will benefit from better working conditions through the signing of three collective agreements. The signing was presided over by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana during the Public Service Expo 2024 themed ‘Investing in Skills’.

The public officers who will be positively impacted by these agreements, which have not been revised since the nineties, play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless Public Administration that offers high quality services. These agreements now include restructured grades and scales which reflect responsibilities that have evolved over the years.

For the first time, an allowance related to Public Service classes has been introduced to attract new employees together with a performance bonus that evaluates an employee’s delivery. Furthermore, through these agreements, trainee programmes in the trade and technical sectors can be introduced to attract students in their early years of studies.

Agreements such as the ones signed today will continue fostering attractiveness and competitiveness within the Public Service whilst retaining existing public officers.

During the past two years 66 agreements were concluded and signed, positively impacting around 14,000 employees.

•  Prime Minister Robert Abela visits the Public Service Expo 2024 during which a new fleet of 250 electric vehicles was launched

For the second consecutive year, the Public Service is holding its annual Public Service Expo at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre, MFCC, at Ta’ Qali. During the Expo, themed ‘Investing in Skills’, Prime Minister Robert Abela launched 250 electric vehicles and described the Public Service as an agent of change.

He said that today’s launch is a reflection of the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the environment, as part of the wider driver to reach our environmental targets and become carbon neutral. He highlighted several incentives to help Maltese families invest in renewable energy. He also outlined key projects which the Government is currently implementing, mainly the Shore-to-Ship project which is decreasing emissions by 90%. “In a similar manner, another project is underway at the Malta Freeport to continue reducing emissions,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr Abela said that this environmental switch will result in cleaner air. Complementing this is the Government’s largest investment in open spaces, so that families can enjoy their free time in green areas – a cleaner and safer environment.

Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana said that today’s launch is just the beginning of a strategy aimed at a more ambitious Public Administration, particularly in terms of the country’s environmental targets. During the past months, the Public Service has worked tirelessly to eliminate emissions as promised in the Government’s electoral manifesto.

He said that these 250 electric vehicles will eliminate more than 370 traditional vehicles from Maltese roads which are run by diesel or fuel.

Head of the Public Administration Tony Sultana stated that the Public Service is not only aiming to improve its services but to actively contribute to sustainable development as outlined by the United Nations. We will continue identifying ways to minimise the impact of our operations on the country’s ecology.

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Principal Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana visited this year’s Expo which is showcasing the progress of the Public Administration in recent years.

The Public Service Expo 2024 opened today and will close this Sunday.

• Prime Minister Robert Abela underlines Malta’s vision to be a European hub for innovation in the semiconductor industry

During a visit to the ST Microelectronics factory where pilot projects for new digital and robotic equipment favouring automated technology in industry 4.0 are currently underway, Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that our country has all the right qualities to become a centre for European innovation and technology in the semiconductor sector.

The project is part of a number of European projects under the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) program, leading to research and development projects on the most advanced technologies in the world. At the ST plant in Kirkop, innovative technological products are being developed and are aimed at improving the company’s operations in microchip manufacturing. The Prime Minister acknowledged the government’s commitment in supporting innovation at factories such as those of ST, and also noted how the future of this company, which employs 1,800 people in Malta, is a bright one indeed.

During the visit to the plant, where 2.7 million microchips are processed daily, Prime Minister Abela highlighted that in reality, many devices we use, from smartphones to cars, have microchips in them which were made in Malta. He added that these microchips play an important role in today’s technological world, and therefore Malta’s role in the technological framework is one which is truly significant.

“This is how we are modernising our country’s economy and creating quality jobs where Maltese and Gozitan students can find employment in the most advanced technology sectors in the world. This showcases the government’s drive and ambition in pushing forward the country’s economic development.

Prime Minister Robert Abela praised ST’s commitment to Malta, and underscored the ongoing investments facilitated by Malta Enterprise and INDIS as a clear testament to this commitment. Joined by the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri, Prime Minister Abela witnessed ongoing work on the state-of-the-art technology that addresses the testing and packaging of digital microchips for automotive, industrial applications. The Prime Minister also witnessed the advanced technology linked to automated manufacturing run by artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that Malta is not passive about the current global geopolitical debate on the semiconductor industry. Rather, Malta is being vocal at the European level to continue strengthening industrial competitiveness and innovation. He noted how it is no small feat that our country is involved in the IPCEI in the Microelectronics and Communication Technology sector.

Dr Abela said that what he witnessed in the pilot projects are the tangible first results of the IPCEI program, of which the University of Malta is an indirect partner through cooperation between educational institutions in Malta and ST Malta. Prime Minister Abela emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and research. In this context, he mentioned a recent agreement that the Government signed with IMEC, a world-renowned centre in the field of research and innovation in nanoelectronics and digital technologies.

The Prime Minister said that what started at ST will strengthen our ecosystem for innovation and semiconductor technology. This will continue to modernise our economy, and offer the best opportunities for Maltese and Gozitans, especially the youth.