Your Excellency, Filip VujanovićHonourable Ministers[President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro][Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of Malta][President of the Malta Developers Association]Distinguished guests and friends
It is a great pleasure to be with you here in Montenegro.
Let me express my appreciation to His Excellency, The President of Montenegro, and his Government, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and to my delegation.
My presence here bears witness to the importance that Malta gives to building closer collaboration with Montenegro, and to the deepening of the friendship that already exists between our peoples.
I feel that there is a commonality between our nations, although we share very different but equally diverse histories and cultures.
We have both experienced the presence of powerful empires and outside influences, yet we retain a profound sense of our own identities and our place in the world.
It is this sense of who we are, and what we can accomplish by working together, that will serve us well in fostering greater friendship and cooperation.
Our nations have already made impressive strides towards exploring and securing opportunities for collaboration.
An example of this is the Memorandum of Understanding signed between our two countries during the visit of the Prime Minister of Montenegro to Malta, in May 2016 on the economy.
This Memorandum of Understanding on the economy will definitely serve as a basis for both countries to study in detail each other’s economic capacity and potentials and assess how best to develop future trade relations.
Both our Chambers of Commerce and of Economy have actively worked together with the principal aim of promoting trade and investment amongst the business communities in our respective countries since the signing of a memorandum of understanding when a Business Forum held in Montenegro in 2010, during a visit by my predecessor.
A business delegation from Montenegro also accompanied the President of Montenegro, His Excellency Filip Vujanović, on his State Visit to Malta in June 2012.
A very important development since, and which reflects our respective economic potential, is Malta’s investment in the Montenegrin energy sector.
The building of a wind power plant shall be born out of an economic cooperation declaration which also shows the concern both our nations feel towards exploring clean and renewable modes of energy production.
Indeed, this shared concern for the sustainability of our activities must be the continuing source and strength of our cooperation.
It is only by working together and sharing a mutual respect for the environmental health of our nations, and our regions, that we can hope to achieve healthier and more dignified lives for all present and future generations.
I am especially pleased to address this important Maltese-Montenegrin Business Forum and to confirm Malta’s interest in nurturing economic and business relations between our two countries.
In fact, I am proud to state that a significant number of representatives from Malta’s business community are present here today, to follow up on, and to deepen, contacts made over the past years.
After Malta joined the European Union in 2004, we have experienced the economic benefits that come with forming part of a united union of nations.
We are eager to support an expanding family of European nations, sharing opportunities that will advance mutual interests.
Furthermore, I believe that Malta’s imminent Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2017 will open a crucial space in which Montenegro’s aspirations to form part of this family of nations can be further facilitated.
Let me also take this opportunity to reaffirm Malta’s good will to work with Montenegro, for the prosperity of our peoples.
It is clear that good relations between us are of benefit not only within the scope of our national objectives but they will have implications throughout our regions.
Indeed, Malta is a gateway to opportunities across the Euro-Mediterranean and Northern African Regions.
Similarly, Montenegro could be a gateway to opportunities in the Balkans.
Without a doubt, friendly nations and peoples, as well as businesses, must share a common aspiration for prosperity.
This can only happen in a culture that prioritises economic growth alongside dignified employment, which translates into a greater quality of life for our peoples.
Hence, I encourage you to build on this shared culture, in which our governments will enable business links and lay the foundations for productive partnerships in various new areas.
These will include economic sectors where Malta has attained a reputation of the highest level internationally, including the Freeport, the Logistics Hub, the Maritime Hub, Aviation Services, the Financial Services, iGaming, the construction industry, and the Information Technology industry, among others.
There is also much scope for further collaboration in the development of tourism infrastructure, including hotel management, as well as capacity building and training in the tourism and hospitality industry.
On the same lines, I must mention Malta’s educational institutions, which offer world-renowned education and training of the highest order.
Malta is known for the services it provides in terms of capacity building, as well as schooling in international diplomacy and administrative services.
The possibility of collaboration also exists in vocational training and the opening of private educational colleges here in Montenegro.
I am aware that the English language is a primary focus for the Montenegrin government.
English language schools in Malta offer excellent training in the language, and are even in constant demand by commercial companies to provide these services across industry.
The cooperation between our countries at this level can provide excellent opportunities for Maltese language schools, fostering exchanges between our nations.
Malta is committed to strengthen its political, economic and commercial relationship with Montenegro.
As the Montenegrin Government seeks to diversify the national economy, Malta stands firm in its commitment to support and assist in this diversification drive.
The possibilities for mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between our two countries are undoubtedly immense.
This Business Forum provides an opportunity for our governments to build a comprehensive business relationship, with the growing recognition of our complementary strengths.
The future of Maltese-Montenegrin economic cooperation also lies in ensuring closer linkages between our two peoples, and in the development of new synergies between our European-Mediterranean and Balkan regions.
At present, very modest trade and investment flows exist, but it is clear that both our countries have much more to offer each other.
In order to create more collaboration between businesses and industry from the two countries, it is essential that our businesses get to know about each other’s capabilities and opportunities.
The aims of this Business Forum are in line with these objectives.
Further interactions between our respective government representatives and business communities are of the utmost importance.
Recent developments in our bilateral relations shall continue to open many avenues for businesses in both countries to work together.
I encourage Montenegrin and Maltese entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, to embark on new business ventures, and to explore possibilities of investment.
The implementation of joint projects shall surely mean that our combined efforts will ensure mutual gains.
I trust that this Business Forum will inspire you all to find innovative ways of working together, identifying powerful synergies for shared benefit.
Let us remember that, while governments are enablers of change, it is private business which drives a deep-rooted transformation and achieves effective results.
It is only when both of our private sectors go into partnerships, form collaborations, and share ideas that our societies will be strengthened.
In conclusion, the ultimate goal of all our work must be oriented towards the wellbeing of society, from which true and lasting prosperity is derived.
Therefore let us not forget that a holistic strengthening of society will itself translate into a stronger business sector.
If we are genuinely committed to strengthening our communities and our economies, then we cannot afford to forget communities who live in precarity and are subject to unacceptable vulnerability.
We must remember that, in our strategies for economic development, it is poverty which most keenly threatens the economic development of every nation.
It threatens the fundamental human rights of individuals and the security of businesses.
It also threatens the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, to which both of our countries are committed.
Let our growing friendship be built on this mutual concern for the entirety of our societies, for every community, especially those most in need of our care.
This holistic plan must be our guide in the way forward, if we are to ensure social, economic, and business prosperity for all.
I trust that my presence in Montenegro will not only help to further consolidate political, commercial and entrepreneurial ties between our two countries, but also will strengthen relations between the communities and the cultures of our nations.
I look forward to seeing your endeavours bear fruit during this Business Forum, and indeed beyond, for the lasting benefit of your businesses, and the wellbeing of our peoples, our nations and our regions.
Thank you.