Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg officially inaugurated the Embassy of the Republic of Malta in Brazil, in the capital city of Brasilia.

Minister Ian Borg stated that the Maltese Government's decision to open this embassy is a very important step for our country's foreign policy. He said that this is being done even after the Maltese foreign policy strategy specified that Malta should seek to strengthen bilateral relations with Latin American countries to explore new political and even economic avenues.

Minister Borg remarked that this inauguration should serve as a starting point for Malta to expand its work in this important region. He thanked Ambassador John Aquilina and Deputy Head of Mission Steve Cachia for their commitment and work to make this opportunity a reality.

Ambassador of Malta to Brazil John Aquilina said that he feels honoured to have been given the confidence to be the first Maltese Ambassador in Latin America and hence feels that he has the responsibility and obligation to bring more opportunities to our country, especially those related to trade.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Christopher Cutajar called this move a strategically important one which would continue to open more diplomatic avenues. Cutajar referred to ongoing work in the context of other embassies around the world.

Present at the inauguration were a number of other European ambassadors to Brazil and senior officials of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.