Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications, spoke about Malta’s ports and their role in the economy when he addressed the opening of the International Ship Suppliers Association convention at St Julian’s.
He said the ports have developed strategies that attract commercial activities and adapted themselves to meet the new exigencies and requirements of the country. Malta’s international trade is conducted through our two international ports – Valletta and Marsaxlokk. The Mgarr port in Gozo is used by international vessels only occasionally since the facilities there are limited.
Malta’s economy is mainly services-oriented, dominated by tourism and financial services. The mainstay of the local economy is without doubt the tourism industry, which accounts for over a third of the gross domestic product.
In the cruise industry, Malta has seen considerable change, resulting from the transformation of Valletta Waterfront to accommodate larger ships. Malta’s cruise line industry has been blossoming over the last years, reaching 400,000 cruise liner passengers and over 360 cruise ships last year. “This year we seem to be heading for new records, with 165,000 passengers in the first six months, up 24.6 per cent on the same period last year. As vessels get larger, the average number of passengers per visit goes up, from 858 in 2005 to 1,221 this year.”
Mr Galea said the port of Marsaxlokk has for centuries been home to a sizeable fishing fleet. But today Marsaxlokk also hosts container terminals that handle 1.6 million TEUs per year, a power generation plant and four petroleum installations. In the meantime it also provides for the needs of the fishing industry and leisure facilities.
The Malta Freeport is only six nautical miles off the main trade route from east to west through the Mediterranean. There are regular and reliable services connecting the Freeport to more than 100 ports throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea, in Northern Europe, America, the Far East, North Africa and the Middle East. This accessibility via reliable services means that traders can plan their shipments effectively and at minimal cost.
The 10,000 or so ships that visit Malta’s ports or are serviced in the territorial waters require a plethora of ancillary services, including bunkering, ship conveyances, crew changes, ship repairs and waste deliveries, and of course supplies.
It is indeed satisfying to acknowledge that ship suppliers in Malta are organised within the Ship Suppliers Association – a very active organisation that leaves no stone unturned by way of further facilitating the timely supply of goods to their clients.
“This is an activity that generates jobs and foreign revenues and as such, it carries a considerable degree of high value added. I encourage its members to consider the further development of their operations through better liaison with local producers, suppliers, retailers and harbour authority officials”, the minister said.