 21– 27 March 2001 |
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Malta to become member of World Trade Centres Association Centre to be established Minister for Economic Services, Josef Bonnici, yesterday announced that plans for the insitution of a World Trade Centre in Malta were welcomed by the World Trade Centre Association. The WTCA additionally welcomed Malta'a ppliocation for membership to the association and is expected to formally endorse the application at the association's forthcoming general conference in April. Prof. Bonicci was in the United States on a short visit during which he and the Maltese delagation held talks with the Association in order to establish such a centre in Malta. The delegation also included the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of METCO, Anthony Diacono and Stephen Sultana respectively and the Deputy Chairman of the Malta Development Corporation Patrick Catania. The WTCA is a not-for-profit, non-political association dedicated to the establishment and effective operation of the World Trade Centres as instruments for international trade expansion. The WTCA currently represents 323 members in 95 countries. The members are all involved in the operation of World Trade Centres or in the provision of related services assisting the promotion and expansion of international trade. World Trade Centres vary significantly in terms of size, scale and range of the facilities that they offer. However, they are all geared towards providing crucial support services to international business such as temporary office accomodation, secretarial and translation services and corporate training, meeting and exhibition facilities. The underlying strength of World Trade Centres is the close links that exist between them as a result of their membership in the WTCA. The WTCA umbrella provides international business with an effective network of contacts throughout the world. The Maltese Governmnet reportedly views the establishment of a World Trade Centre in Malta as an additional and very important step in the promotion and development of Malta as a principal hub for trade in the Mediterranean region, exploiting existing infrastructure such as the Malta Freeport. The meeting with the WTCA in New York was preceded by a visit to the Boston World Trade Centre. In addition to a tour of the facilities provided within that location, the Maltese delegation met John E Drew, President of the Boston World Trade Centre, for a discussion on the particular business strategy adopted by them and by other centres within the WTCA. |
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