MBR_ISSUE 46_NOV_DEC_18_LowRes

Malta Business Review
NEWSMAKERS
Malta ratifies the EU-Japan
Strategic Partnership Agreement
The relationship between the European
Union and Japan is based upon longstanding
cooperation and shared fundamental values
and principles such as democracy, the rule
of law, human rights, good governance and a
market-based economy – benefits to citizens
in both Europe and Japan. As an EU member
state, Malta also shares this sentiment and
these values.
As the first ever bilateral framework
agreement between the EU and Japan, the
Strategic Partnership Agreement greatly
strengthens the overall partnership by
promoting political and sectoral cooperation
and joint actions on issues of common
interest—including on regional and global
challenges—notably cybercrime, disaster
management, energy security, climate
change and ageing populations, amongst
others.
On 31st October 2018, Minister for Foreign
Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela,
on behalf of Malta, signed the ratification
agreement of the EU-Japan Strategic
Partnership Agreement which had been
signed in Tokyo on 17 July 2018 between the
High Representative of the European Union
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice-President of the European Commission
Federica Mogherini and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Japan Tarō Kōno.
sources, and, in the interim, fossil fuels with
a lower carbon footprint. Of course, the
chosen energy mix is very much country
specific, and reflects access to indigenous
resources, security of supply considerations
and cost implications,” he added. “One could
be tempted to state that today’s citizens are
victims of their own success. The industrial
MBR
9th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development
Microsoft Appoints New
Enterprise Commercial Director
for Greece, Cyprus and Malta
Microsoft Hellas: Aiming to the
optimization of customers’ experience
The agreement concerns remits which
cover the EU’s and member states’ shared
competence and therefore, it requires the
ratification of all EU member states before
it enters into force. The agreement will
enter into force after the General Secretariat
of the Council of the European Union is
notified through diplomatic channels of the
completion of the internal procedures by
member states. MBR
Source: DOI
Malta actively supporting the
development of cost effective
renewable energy sources
Minister for Energy and Water Management
Joe Mizzi said that Malta is actively supporting
the development of cost effective renewable
energy sources, but has also invested heavily
to switch power generation from oil to
natural gas. “This approach will ensure that
new, cost effective technologies come on the
market in time to meet emission reduction
targets whilst sustaining growth and
modernization,” he said whilst addressing
the 9th International Forum on Energy for
Sustainable Development, in Kiev, Ukraine.
Minister Mizzi explained that following the
ratification of this international commitment,
there has been a strong sense of engagement
from the EU Member States cementing the
need to increase integration of renewable
energy into the system, improve energy
efficiency whilst at the same time supporting
research and innovation in low-carbon and
clean energy technologies. “I firmly believe
that the modernization of our economies can
go hand in hand with the climate agenda. An
effective energy transition can be sustainable,
whereby fossil fuels are gradually replaced
by a mix of renewable and nuclear energy
revolution would not have happened without
access to fossil fuels and the technologies
which developed around their extraction,
processing, transportation and conversion.
For the past two hundred years, we saw the
standard of living of several areas around the
globe improve – driven by fossil energy. But
this has left significant side effects, which
could jeopardise all that we have strived for,
and even put at risk entire communities.
This we need to face together. We also
have the unique opportunity to assist those
communities who were at the fringes of the
industrial revolution to also improve their
quality of life without having to resort to fossil
fuels, but rather move directly to alternative
energy sources.”
Minister Mizzi concluded his intervention
during the Ministerial conference by stating
that we must keep the global citizen at the
centre of our actions. “This is not just about
the depletion of fossil fuel resources, but
rather our commitment towards future
generations and our obligation to leave a
better place to live in.” MBR
Credit: DOI
Oriented to serving the highest-potential
businesses, but also the Public Sector,
Microsoft Hellas proceeds to organizational
changes. The teams of the Public Sector
and of Enterprise Commercial join forces,
under the leadership of Mr. Theodosis
Michalopoulos, who until recently held the
position of Enterprise Commercial Director
of Microsoft for Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
From his new role, as the Enterprise
Commercial and Public Sector Director in
Microsoft for Greece, Cyprus and Malta,
Theodosis Michalopoulos is expected to
contribute to the more efficient operation of
the company and to the digital transformation
of its customers. MBR
Credit: Corporate Identites
Theodosis Michalopoulos
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