Speaking at the launch of the eighth edition of the Valletta Boat Show, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi announced that, along with other ministries, his ministry was working on setting up a maritime academy to train young people to work in the maritime industry.
After praising the boat show for raising the profile of the maritime sector both locally and on an international stage, Minister Mizzi went on to say that Malta required more manpower to work in the industry.
“I appreciate the work that the Valletta Boat Show does in this sector, as it benefits the country and promotes the maritime sector both locally and on internationally. This helps build our country as a maritime hub, which we are trying to build,” Minister Mizzi said.
“Obviously this is not the only thing we need to be doing: we need capable manpower, and we need to train more people and encourage more people to enter the maritime sector. To this end, other ministers and myself are working on the setting up of a maritime academy to encourage more young people to enter the maritime sector, because the future of our country also depends on this,” the minister said, adding it was a “goldmine for employment”.
“Due to popular demand by participants wishing to have the event closer to the yachting centre, my team and I couldn’t think of a better spot than Ta’ Xbiex, which is also easily accessible by the public,” John Formosa, director of Circle Events and himself a keen yachter, said of this year’s event.
“Being closer to many of our participants’ businesses is proving to be very helpful with the organisation and management of the event. We feel that this move will make the event even more successful than in past years.”
Mr Formosa added that this year’s event was being dedicated to Roland DarmaninKissaun and Teddy Borg, both of whom were stalwarts of the yachting community in Malta and supporters of the Valletta Boat Show.
Godwin Zammit, commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club said the club was very happy to host the boat show this year and support Circle Events in this venture, and said the club would do its utmost to secure the event’s success.
The 7th edition of the Valletta Boat Show, Malta’s biggest boating and yachting event, is set to take place between the 6th and 9th November.
Established in 2007, the event compares well with other medium-sized European boat shows, and will play host to some of the industry’s most prestigious brands at its new home, the Royal Malta Yacht Club in Ta’ Xbiex, Malta.
For the first time, this year’s VBS will also feature a fashion show featuring Malta’s top models and clothing brands. Other products related to the industry will also be represented.