The Establishment of the Malta Marittima Agency

The Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth has recently held that it is pertinent to continue improving Malta’s National Integrated Maritime Policy in order to promote Malta as a centre for maritime excellence. To this end, in accordance to the Public Administration Act, the Prime Minister issued the Malta Marittima (Establishment as an Agency) Order, 2016 which sets up the Malta Marittima Agency. The Agency will be responsible for endorsing and advancing the maritime sector internationally.

In essence, the Order bestows upon the Agency a number of functions and duties. Indeed, the Agency will be duty bound to promote maritime sectoral clusters and to encourage these sectors to focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and environmentally sustainable developments. Additionally, the Agency shall promote the beneficial aspects of the exchange of ideas between private and public entities and participation at EU and international meetings and conferences is to be encouraged.

The Order provides for a number of organisational provisions which will further enhance the proper functioning of the new Agency. In this respect all employees and other public officers working at the Office of the Permanent Secretary shall be considered to be employees of the agency and will be subject to the same terms and conditions. At the helm, a chairperson shall be in charge of executing the functions and duties which are listed down in Public Administration Act and such chairperson shall be nominated by the Minister responsible for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

The Minister may also set up a Steering Committee so as to help out the chairperson in the execution of his duties. The Committee will comprise of five directors which are chosen from Transport Malta, Malta Enterprise, the Malta Freeport Corporation, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Regulator of Energy and Water Services. Furthermore, the Agency’s financial arrangements shall be regulated by the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act unless stated otherwise.

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