Watch: Xjenza Malta Organises Joint Malta-Italy Event with WestMED On Sustainable Maritime Development
A joint event organised by the National Agency for Research, Innovation and Space, Xjenza Malta in collaboration with WestMED, brought together Mediterranean regional authorities to discuss maritime sustainability.
The “Navigating the Future – Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Maritime Development in the Mediterranean” event was held yesterday at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre and marks the second edition of the joint national Maltese-Italian WestMED event.
Discussions focused on the possible and necessary collaborative actions to ensure the protection of Mediterranean waters, not only by EU members, but all Mediterranean adjacent countries.
“In this framework, Italy and Malta have decided to work together as European Union Members, to include our southern shore partners, such as Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, and to support the implementation of a sustainable framework.,” said Leonardo Manzari from the WestMED National Hub in Italy, alongside Malta’s WestMED National Hub representative, Stephanie Vella.
Also in attendance were Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation and Malta Maritime Forum President, Godwin Xerri.
Xerri said that it is important for the maritime industry to become a “primary driver in decarbonisation,” as it too has fallen victim to pollution-caused climate change.
During the event, Azzopardi Tanti also highlighted the importance of youth participation in the initiative:
“By strengthening communication with our youth and fostering collaboration with enterprises, we are paving the way for a vibrant and forward-thinking ecosystem within Malta’s blue economy, which employs over 10,000 people and generates more than €406 million annually in gross value added.”
All parties in attendance agreed on fostering a future where financial, political, and social collaboration could lead to a greener and healthier environment for future generations.
What collaborative efforts do you think can benefit our seas?
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