16.1 Maritime Transport

potential which offers profitable careers in all the main areas that form the blue economy, namely:

• Living resources including aquaculture • Offshore oil and gas • Port activities • Shipbuilding and repair • Maritime transport • Coastal tourism

16.1 Maritime Transport

In 2021, the MEA signed a partnership agreement with the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) in order to share expertise and cooperate on policy matters of mutual interest. To this end, the MEA shared a number of proposals and ideas included in a “Maritime-Centred Electoral Manifesto” which the MMF submitted to the Political Parties in advance of the next General Election.

These opinions were framed within the context of the current extraordinary circumstances at the global level to which the maritime transport industry is naturally exposed and the threats and opportunities that face it. The maritime sector is expected to suffer a negative fall-out from Malta’s greylisting particularly due to the intrinsic links that exist between the maritime industry and the banking and insurance sectors in financial services.

It is deemed crucial for the incoming government to recognize and offer support the the development of the maritime industry to reflect (i) its ranking and importance at a global level and (ii) its systemic strategic and economic importance.

The MEA acknowledges Malta’s National Transport Strategy but notes the absence of a specific policy document dedicated to the Maritime industry. Such a document is required to provide statements of principle, objectives and direction to interested stakeholders. The document would ideally spell out the Government’s vision and goals for the maritime industry. The Forum contends that besides contributing to ensure that the Industry is governed in an efficient, consistent, sustainable, safe and environmentally sound manner, a properly implemented National Maritime Transport Policy can give a country the tools it needs to harness Malta’s full potential of the blue economy.

In this context, the MEA recognises the due importance of private investors in the maritime industry and consequently, the Association proposes the need for greater recognition of the role of local and foreign companies that are investing heavily to sustain and grow the industry’s economic contribution through the generation of prosperity, jobs, tax revenues and other economic multipliers. This would necessitate, first and foremost, a continuous line of communication and consultation with key stakeholders so as to ensure alignment between public and private strategies and objectives for the industry. A case in point for example is the need for a clear and properly communicated programme of infrastructural works within the ports of Malta with deadlines for completion. One must not lose sight of the fact that maritime transport is by its very nature an international activity and that consequently, Malta and key private sector maritime operators are competing in a global village. Investors therefore, expect nothing less than investor-friendly conditions.

Furthermore, an incoming Administration needs to earmark the necessary resources to support all forward-looking economic operators including those in the Maritime Industry that are willing to render their business models more:

• economically, environmentally and socially sustainable; • digitally prepared and orientated, and • resilient to shocks;

through the adoption of tangible climate change/energy-efficiency initiatives and/or competitiveness enhancing measures through concrete innovation and digitalisation initiatives.

As highlighted above, the Association feels a pressing need for the facilitation of career paths of people interested in taking up rewarding and lucrative positions in the maritime industry to the advantage of the industry’s competitiveness. As things stand, the Maritime Industry needs to be given due prominence in the national career guidance structures. Presently in fact, the maritime industry does not feature in the “I Choose – Nagħżel il-Karriera Tiegħi” initiative for 2021 which was embarked upon by the Education Ministry for the purposes of students’ guidance on career and educational options in their later years of compulsory education. Children, from a young age need to be given more exposure to matters related to the Blue Economy and the national curriculum needs to cover related subjects. Accreditation of courses in the Maritime sector