The technological investment of recent years in the Public Service, amounting to €150 million, is 'bearing fruit' both at the National Archives through increased archiving and documentation capacities, as well as Customs, where investment has led to 'record amounts of drugs and illicit goods being seized,' Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said

Cutajar was visiting the National Archives and various sections of Customs as part of Public Service Week 2020, which runs until Friday 25 September.

At the National Archives in Rabat, Cutajar was welcomed and shown around by National Archivist Charles Farrugia. Cutajar spoke with the workers and was given an explanation of the work involved in conserving documents as well as the process of cataloguing them and making them publicly available. Information was also provided on important projects such as 'Memorja'.

Pointing out that the Public Service offers a very rewarding career to those specialised in these fields, Cutajar said that the National Archives play a part in the digitisation strategy of the Public Service, "where they will have an essential role in the e-filing project in government departments. At a time when the need for electronically available documents is ever increasing, this is an indispensable project, particularly in terms of remote work."

Cutajar also mentioned the plans for a new building at Ta' Qali with the aim of giving the National Archives more working space.

When visiting the Customs complex at the Freeport, Cutajar was welcomed by the Director General of Customs, Joseph Chetcuti, who spoke of how the financial investments made at Customs in recent years, including €8 million for scanners and other machinery, have led to large amounts of drugs being seized. Cutajar met the workers and closely followed the process of the scanning of containers by Customs inspectors.

Cutajar also visited the new building which houses the Customs Dog Section at Ħal Far, where currently there are eight fully trained dogs.

All activities organised during Public Service Week may be followed live on the Public Service Facebook page.