MBR_ISSUE 49_MARCH_lowres

Malta Business Review
NEWSMAKERS
Malta continues to advocate in favor of an integrated
and holistic approach towards ocean governance
“Today’s fragmented approach towards
ocean governance, where different UN
agencies deal with overlapping issues in
a disjointed manner, needs to change if
we want a secure and sustainable future
for our oceans and seas. This is why Malta
continues to advocate in favour of an
integrated approach to international ocean
governance and a holistic approach to
the problems of ocean space”, Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion,
Carmelo Abela told lecturers and students
during the opening address at an
International Workshop organised jointly by
the International Maritime Law Institute and
the Embassy of Japan, with whom Malta has
excellent ongoing bilateral relations that will
soon strengthen and taken to a higher level,
as a result of the Government’s decision to
set up an embassy in Tokyo.
The theme of the workshop was “The
Role of Maritime Law in the East Asian
Maritime Relations” and was addressed by
Professor David Attard, Director of IMLI,
as well as by Ms Hitomi Sato, Minister
Counsellor from the Embassy of Japan.
The focus of the international workshop
was on issues affecting international
maritime law and ocean governance in
East Asia. Professors from the WMU-
Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at
the World Maritime University, Sophia
University and King’s College London
delivered lectures to the participants.
In his speech, Minister Abela stated that
as an island State in the centre of the
Mediterranean, with a long and rich
maritime history, it is only natural for
Malta to have a vital interest in all matters
related to the Sea. “As an outwardlooking
nation, Malta’s foreign policy
has, throughout the years, placed an
automatic focus on seeking to contribute
towards furthering the development of
international ocean governance.”
He recalled Arvid Pardo’s vision that
inspired the adoption of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
which to this day, remains the overall legal
framework for all activities concerning the
sea. This vision is still relevant in the context
of the challenges of our times including
the dynamics in the East Asia region.
“Historically, the sea lanes in East Asia have
been key for trade and remain economically
vital for billions of people throughout the
world. As we are all well aware, the policies
pursued by regional powers have profound
implications for regional – and global –
security and stability. The maritime domain
in East Asia presents several challenges with
prospects for either conflict: or cooperation”
Minister Abela highlighted the fact that
diplomacy has an important role to play
in turning challenges into opportunities
for cooperation through dialogue and
confidence building. “We need to promote
common goals which could, in turn,
promote positive effects on the overall
relations between countries. In this respect,
we welcome the efforts of regional actors –
including the co-host of today’s workshop,
Japan – to enhance maritime security. Other
initiatives, such as the one taken by India in
2015 with the aim of fostering connectivity
and the development of the blue economy,
are also commendable.”
Minister Abela also highlighted IMLI’s role in
propagating the rule of law through more
than thirty years of excellence in the service
of international maritime law. MBR
Photos: MFTP;
CREDITS: THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND TRADE PROMOTION
The Finance Minister is presented
with OECD report by OECD Head
of the Public Procurement Unit
The Minister for Finance Prof. Edward
Scicluna held a meeting with the Head
of the Public Procurement unit at the
OECD Public Governance Directorate
Mr. Paulo Magina who presented a copy
of the OECD report commissioned by
the Government of Malta entitled ‘Reengineering
the Department of Contracts’.
In 2016 the Government of Malta had
instituted a new regulatory framework
which transposed the 2014 EU Directives
covering Public Procurement Concession
Contracts and Utilities Contracts, which
were intended to increase effectiveness,
transparency and accountability.
Following this significant movement
forward in the regulatory landscape a
raft of changes in the organisational
and operational areas pertinent to
public procurement followed suit.
Major improvements continued in
the area of e-procurement and also
through decentralisation of the public
procurement processes with the
establishment of Ministerial Procurement
Units (MPUs), similar to other European
countries, like Portugal. The European
Single Procurement Document (ESPD) was
also introduced and good progress was
made in the areas of environmental and
social procurement.
Most of the reforms undertaken to date
are aligned with the abovementioned
EU Directives, but some reforms
such as the establishment of MPUs
fall under the discretionary power
of the Member States. To achieve
the desired improvements in Malta’s
public procurement efficiency and
effectiveness it is acknowledged and
recognised that a concerted and
planned programme of change will be
able to accelerate and enhance the
programmes already underway.
This report is a result of a joint initiative
of the Government of Malta, OECD and
European Commission. The Finance
Minister was accompanied by his Chief of
Staff, Dr. Paul Debattista and Permanent
Secretary, Mr. Joseph Caruana. MBR
Courtesy: Ministry of Finance
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