Boat show exhibits valued up to Lm7m

The 60-odd vessels taking part in the first Valletta Boat Show are valued at between Lm5-Lm7 million, a spokesman for the promoters said yesterday.

Their size ranges from 10 to 80 feet and vary from sailing boats to power boats, George Papagiorcopulo, Network Publication's event manager, said.

The Valletta Boat Show, which was officially opened on Thursday at the marina of the new Excelsior Grand Hotel, ends tomorrow evening. The show features 45 exhibitors displaying a whole array of maritime equipment and boats that are either privately owned or were brought to Malta by leading manufacturers to promote their latest product on the market. None of the vessels on show is more than a year old.

"The boat market has grown worldwide and it is quite recently that the Maltese government has recognised its potential," John Formosa, managing director of Network Publications, said. "We are therefore selling Malta as a yachting destination with a high quality of life."

Network Publications, together with the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Yachting Services Trade Section of The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, are patrons of this show. The Malta Maritime Authority, Belair Real Estate, Bank of Valletta, Citadel Insurance, Cutrico Services Ltd and Firetech are supporting the event.

The show will be open from 5.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. today and from 10.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. tomorrow.

www.vallettaboatshow.com