The Malta Maritime Forum was invited by the Hon. Minister Joe Mizzi, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, to participate in the first meeting of the Joint Maritime Commission between Turkey and Malta which was held in Ankara and Istanbul on the 30th and 31st of March. The Maltese delegation included representatives from Transport Malta, Malta Enterprise, the Malta Maritime Forum, the Malta Dockers Union and private industry.
The subjects discussed during the Commission proceedings included the training of Turkish seamen in Malta, exchange between Maltese and Turkish Universities and classification societies on research and innovation within the maritime sector, the facility for Turkish owners to register their vessels under the Malta flag, the services offered by the Turkish classification society Lloyd Turku and the participation of Turkish shipping lines in shortsea shipping initiatives within the Mediterranean.
The extensive talks between the two sides included presentations which highlighted the maritime services and facilities that Malta can offer as well as the areas of collaboration that Turkey is interested to open up to Maltese interests. Presentations from the Malta side included Transport Malta, Malta Maritime Forum and Malta Enterprise. The Maltese delegation was also addressed by senior officials from the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey, the Turkish Chamber of Shipping and representatives of the Turkish Classification Society. The Maltese delegation, led by the Hon. Minister Joe Mizzi, was also invited to visit a private shipbuilding yard within the Tuzla area. During the intensive two day visit, the Maltese Minister for Transport and Infrastructure held bilateral discussions with his counterpart, the Turkish Minister for Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Mr Binali Yıldırım, who also agreed to a follow up meeting in Malta of the Joint Commission in the coming months.