CHOGM think tank set up

The major events and activities during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta this November are to be coordinated by a think tank.

The think tank includes senior officials of the government CHOGM task force, senior officials of the Malta Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The first meeting of the think tank was held last Wednesday and focused on the logistics of the high profile events that will be organised for the thousands of delegates and journalists that will attend the meeting.

The meeting kicked off with a presentation on the logistics and programme of the CHOGM and focused on a brainstorming exercise aimed at maximising the marketing potential of Malta through the organisation of specific activities to be organised for the delegates and the journalists.

The think tank consists of CHOGM task force chairman, ambassador Salv J Stellini; MTA executive chairman Romwald Lungaro Mifsud; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Peter Portelli; the communications coordinator to the Prime Minister, Alan Camilleri; the CHOGM internal communications manager Jesmond Bonello; the president of the Destination Management Companies' Association, Joe Diacono and Anthony Bezzina, who was appointed chairman of the think tank.

Concurrently, the MTA executive chairman, Mr Lungaro Mifsud appointed an MTA executive team to implement the programme decided upon by the CHOGM think tank and to take an active part in the think tank.

The MTA CHOGM 2005 executive team is composed of senior officials of the authority including Jeffrey Cutajar, director marketing and promotion; Mario Attard, director product planning directorate; Leonard Zammit Munro, senior manager corporate communications and business development and Alan Vella, personal assistant to the Tourism Minister.

The think tank is expected to meet again shortly to consolidate its plans related to the marketing and communications events.