The Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government has announced details for a special concert celebrating Malta’s 60th anniversary of Independence on September 21, 2024. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Michael Laus and featuring mezzo-soprano Marvic Monreal, will perform at Dar il-Mediterran in Valletta. Admission is free, making the event accessible to all Maltese and Gozitan families.

Minister Owen Bonnici expressed pride in the commemorative events, highlighting their role in fostering national unity and pride. The concert will also be broadcast on the national station, allowing those unable to attend in person to enjoy the performance. In addition, a documentary marking the milestone will air on local television.

Festivals Malta Chairman, Aaron Zahra, emphasized the educational aspect of these celebrations, noting how they help keep Malta’s rich history alive. CEO Frans Agius provided further details, noting the concert will feature works by composers such as Beethoven, Bizet, Charles Camilleri, and Alexander Vella Gregory.

The event will take place under the patronage of President Myriam Spiteri Debono, and is organized by Festivals Malta, with the support of the National Celebrations Foundation and the Ministry for National Heritage.

#MaltaDaily

The Malta Chamber of Commerce has called on the government to address long-standing structural issues ahead of the 2025 budget. During a meeting with Prime Minister Robert Abela, Chamber President Chris Vassallo Cesareo stressed the urgency of tackling problems that are slowing down the country’s progress.

The Chamber outlined 12 key priorities for the budget, including:

Competitiveness

Fiscal Discipline

Utilities

Renewables

Traffic Congestion

Sustainable Tourism

Planning and Upkeep of Public Areas

Value-Added Employment

Third Country Nationals (TCNs)

Low Income Earners and Pensioners

Public Procurement

Proper Enforcement of Laws and Regulations

Chamber CEO Dr. Marthese Portelli highlighted the need for an economic shift from a labor-intensive model to one focused on high-value sectors. She warned that without such a shift, the country’s infrastructure and resources will continue to struggle.

They also highlighted key areas including :

Good governance across the board and carrying out the required reforms, including
the public procurement reform

Planning well the necessary investment required to enhance Malta’s productivity
and competitiveness

Rationalising public procurement to avoid unnecessary expenditure and to ensure
that all public spending gives good return on investment.

Simplification of business processes and making better use of technology across government agencies, authorities, and departments, to improve operational efficiency,reduce unnecessary costs and delays for businesses, as well as to ensure better
enforcement

The necessary and speedy investment to ensure a stable and adequate supply of electricity, water and sewage services that meet the demand

Finetuning measures to encourage more businesses to adopt green technologies, offering schemes and tariffs that provide a better return on investment than the current ones.

Implementation of a number of measures aimed at addressing Malta’s traffic congestion rather than merely expanding road networks or adopting sporadic measures which in the absence of others end up futile.

Urban planning issues and the importance of embarking on a wider planning reform to ensure a holistic approach which is coherent and respects aesthetics, as opposed to pick-and-choose policy approaches.

The upkeep of public spaces, which should be a priority to enhance the well-being of residents and the country’s attractiveness to tourists.
Addressing the human resource issue and moving towards more value-added employment.

In response, Prime Minister Abela acknowledged the concerns raised and pledged to consider the Chamber’s proposals. He emphasized the importance of reforms and public-private collaboration in creating a more resilient economy and improving quality of life.

The Chamber expects the 2025 budget to be a turning point for much-needed changes and called for more effective dialogue with the government and key stakeholders.

#MaltaDaily