It was a privilege for me to head the Maltese delegation at the Dubai Expo currently underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but most of all, it was a great honour to witness Malta’s flag taking centre-stage during the official ceremony marking Malta Day during the Expo.
It goes, without saying, that the Expo attracts umpteenth entities, businesses and other individuals due to the fact that it is a widely followed event and serves as a massive showcase for countries, including Malta, to display their potential and business-related opportunities. In Malta’s case, the Malta Pavillion stand was full to the brim with Maltese businesses displaying their products and services, the event itself serving as a networking event like no other.
The Dubai Expo is hosting individuals from 190 nations giving Malta ample coverage in the most effective of ways.
The Expo helped Malta unveil its potential in terms of human resources and exhibit the main sector Malta excels in: tourism. The idea of Malta’s presence was to help enhance sectors such as tourism - Malta’s bread and butter. Not only, the Expo and events of this calibre, help SMEs and larger businesses also engage in networking to exchange ideas to forge relationships with other businesses overseas.
During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with Her Excellency Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, where both sides discussed sectors both countries can collaborate in while also seeking new ventures.
UAE is known to be the leader in creativity and innovation so this was an opportunity to grasp in a bid to continue to develop our strong ties with the UAE and seek more bilateral agreements that will no doubt benefit Malta.
During my speech at the official ceremony marking Malta Day, where Malta’s artistic and business talent was demonstrated, I emphasised on the fact that despite our size, Malta always sought to maximise its strategic position and generate opportunities.
In my speech, I spoke about Malta’s achievements before and during the pandemic: from the vaccine roll-out programme, and the lowest unemployment and highest unemployment rates, to the strategy the Maltese Government devised and implemented to support businesses and families – a comprehensive package of assistance which is still active.
During my talks with the Minister of State for Advanced Technology, we focused on mutual areas of cooperation in a wealth of strategic sectors.
The relationship between the two countries is set to accelerate… and Malta will jump to the opportunity to see business development widen in a bid to enhance our economy and to ensure that businesses flourish.
On a separate note, it was unfortunate to hear that a terrorist attack took place in Abu Dhabi. Malta joins the international community in condemning the deplorable attacks on civilians and expresses its deepest sympathy towards the victims’ families and to those injured in the attack.
Silvio Schembri is Minister for the Economy and Industry