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LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Maltese economy registered a growth rate of 3.9% in volume terms for the second quarter of 2023. According to provisional estimates published by the National Statistics Office, the GDP for the second quarter of 2023 amounted to €4.7 billion, registering an increase of €416.9 million, or 9.7%, when compared to the same quarter of 2022. The NSO said that economic growth was measured from the aspects of production, consumption and profits. The contribution to the growth rate in volume terms of Service activities and Industry were both positive and stood at 4.0 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. The increase in Service activities was mainly driven by the growth rates recorded in the following sectors: Administrative and support services activities (25.4%), Financial and insurance activities (15.4%) and Accommodation and food service activities (21.8%). However, agriculture and fishing recorded a negative contribution of 0.1 percentage points. Figures show that in the second quarter of 2023, Final consumption expenditure increased by 2.9% in volume terms. This was mainly the result of an increase in Private final consumption of 5.9%. General government final consumption decreased by 3.8 %. Between April and June exports of merchandise and services increased by 2.5% while imports decreased by 1.6%. Compared to the second quarter of 2022, the increase of €416.9 million in nominal GDP was mainly the result of increases in Compensation of employees and Gross operating surplus and mixed income of €135.4 million and €285.3 million, respectively. These increases were partly offset by a decrease of €3.8 million in Net taxation on production and imports. (ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

MILAN (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The first Italian-Saudi Investment Forum was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and the Ministry of Investments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by Minister Khalid Al-Falih.

The memorandum of understanding is intended to support dialogue between institutions and companies interested in promoting investment between the two countries and to encourage cooperation in direct investments, supporting investors in all phases of projects once they have been indicated as having importance strategic economy for one of the two countries.

During the bilateral meeting between the two ministers, Saudi Minister Al-Falih invited Minister Urso to Riyadh to consolidate cooperation between the two countries and encourage collaboration between companies.

Also participating in the forum are the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Made in Italy, Valentino Valentini, the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, the Saudi Ambassador to Italy, Prince Faisal Bin Salman and the Saudi government investor relations manager, Badr Albadr.

Around 1,200 companies are participating, of which 500 physically and over 700 remotely. More than 150 Saudi companies are participating. Among the Italian companies there are Eni, Snam, Cdp, Enel, Leonardo, WeBuild, Maire, Pirelli, Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Ita, Ansaldo Energia, Saipem, Invimit participate in the forum.

The objective of the Forum is to enhance existing synergies, identifying new development opportunities and promoting collaboration and dialogue between business leaders, institutions and investors of the two countries.

– photo: press office Ministry of Made in Italy –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese health authorities will be offering the latest annual Covid-19 booster as the immunity is starting to diminish. The Health Ministry noted that taking an annual booster vaccination dose remains very important, especially for vulnerable people.
The health authorities observed a noticeable increase in reported cases of positive COVID-19 cases during this summer, with the average number of weekly cases in Malta rising to 143.75 between July 24 and 20 August, compared to 80.75 weekly cases between 26 June and 23 July. “The increase in cases is not limited to Malta, as other EU countries have also reported rising case numbers, according to the ECDC,” the Ministry noted.
Fortunately, despite the rise in new cases, the mortality rates attributed to Covid-19 have not increased, the Ministry said. “This is due to the fact that a very high proportion of the Maltese population is vaccinated.”
The Ministry also said that the highest incidence of cases is mainly noted in those over 65 years of age. The Maltese health authorities are encouraging the public to take necessary prevention measures for respiratory illness including staying home in isolation if symptomatic, testing, washing hands, and keeping up to date with vaccinations.

– foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Following last Thursday head-on traffic accident on Via Peppino Impastato in Pozzallo Sicily, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Malta confirmed that the first Maltese couple arrived in Malta on the catamaran on Friday evening, and are presently recovering at Mater Dei Hospital. The Ministry added that another Maltese national is being helped by his son and arrived in Malta on the catamaran in the last hours, but his wife needs the services of an air ambulance to return to Malta because of the injuries she sustained in the accident. In the case of the third couple, the man has been discharged from the hospital and is still in Sicily waiting for his wife, who also needs an air ambulance to return to Malta for treatment. In the case of the two women needing an air ambulance, talks are ongoing between the involved couples, the Mater Dei administration in Malta and the insurance companies, for the women to be brought over to Malta for treatment. One of them is suffering from an elbow fracture and the other woman needs hip surgery.(ITALPRESS).

Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Six Maltese nationals who are on a holiday in Sicily ended up in a head-on traffic accident on the road from Pozzallo to Modica and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred yesterday, when the Maltese tourists were travelling in a minibus which can take up to nine passengers. The minibus collided with a Volkswagen T-Roc SUV, and as a result eight passengers were injured.
The driver and passenger in the car, and the six Maltese tourists were taken to two hospitals by a number of ambulances.
Three of the Maltese citizens were admitted to a hospital in Ragusa while three others are at a hospital in Modica.  At the Ragusa hospital there is a woman and two men. The woman suffered an elbow fracture and can only be transported to Malta by ambulance. One of the other men dislocated his shoulder, while the second man is stable.
At the Modica hospital there were two women and a man. The man has been discharged, one of the women suffered a fractured jaw and leg injuries, while the second woman needed a hip surgery and can only be brought to Malta by ambulance.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is in constant contact with the Italian authorities to make the necessary arrangements for the Maltese patients to be brought to Malta for treatment.
Maltàs embassy in Rome and the Honorary Consulate in Catania are in constant contact with the patients and their relatives.
– foto Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has launched for consultation Maltàs first national policy for offshore renewable energy with plans to have the first wind or solar floating farms located between 12 and 25 nautical miles off Maltà shores. While the Maltese islands are limited by their spatial ground area of 316km2, the country through its geographical location in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, has a potential Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 70,000km2, which is much larger than its land area. Six sites have been identified as potential areas where the floating farms could be located. Several factors were taken into account including: airport buffer zone and harbour approaches, aquaculture farm boundaries, submarine cables and pipelines, exploratory oil wells and potential oil and gas prospects, fishing aggregation devices zones, marine facilities and marine and bird species in the area. Wind strength was also taken into account. At the moment, most of Maltàs energy is generated from fossil fuel with only 10 per cent coming from renewable energy. Most of the renewable energy is generated from solar panels – which take a lot of space in a country where land is limited and expensive. Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said, “this is Maltàs first-ever national policy for offshore renewable energy to offer clean and affordable energy that is created responsibly and with environmental awareness. We need to get to a point where our energy is generated from renewable sources so that we can be more autonomous,” adding that the interest of the consumer was always at the centre and that such investment would also be creating jobs. The public consultation is open until the end of September after which the feedback will be evaluated and an international call for expression of interest will lead to the shortlisting of bidders. No timeline was given for the setting up of the first renewable energy farms as that depended on several factors.

– Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –
(ITALPRESS).

CERNOBBIO (COMO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “It is impossible to think of negotiating with Putin”. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the declaration in a video link during the European House-Ambrosetti Forum, in Cernobbio.
According to Zelensky, the killing of Prigozhin signifies how weak Putin’s own words are.” “Prigozhin was a terrorist, but he did what Putin wanted,” underlined the Ukrainian President.
“Without Crimea, without Donbass, there cannot be sustainable peace in Ukraine and therefore there cannot be sustainable peace in the European Union”, explained Zelensky, while adding: “Russia is bombing our homes and creating chaos in Africa, but that doesn’t show strength, it only hides weakness. The enemy creates chaos to take what does not belong to them”.
Zelensky declared: “We have never had any doubts about Italy’s support, and we thank it for the help it has given us,” adding “just as we thank the European Union, this is the time for strong decisions for global security”.

– foto: Agenzia Fotogramma –

(ITALPRESS).

LA VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that Malta is experiencing a change in its economic model, confirming that “his government is leading an economic transition based on quality across the board.
During an interview on the Labour Party radio station, Abela said “yes to foreign workers in the sectors needed for economic growth, but no to foreign workers who are not needed.”
Abela was reacting to the growing concerns of the Maltese who are blaming the overcrowding of the Maltese islands on the government’s policy which is causing serious pressures on the infrastructure, including traffic, housing, and garbage crises. He added quality should outperform quantity and workers brought to Malta must have the necessary skills.
Maltàs population increased from 417,000 in 2011 to 542,000 at the end of last year. Recently, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana warned that if Malta wants to maintain an average economic growth rate of 4.2%, the population would have to increase to 800,000 by 2040, unless a new economic model was developed. Last year, some 28,000 non-EU nationals were granted a work permit and this sudden influx has resulted in worker exploitation.
Abela said the health care and elderly care sectors require more skilled foreign workers given Maltàs aging population. However, he stressed that there is an oversaturation of foreign workers in the transport sector. The Maltese Premier added that he wants to see more Maltese people take up highly-paid jobs in other sectors such as in technology.
– photo Department of Information (Doi)-
(ITALPRESS).