Joseph Buhagiar, senior lecturer at the University’s Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering was appointed Honorary Consul of Colombia in Malta. The appointment took place at the Colombian Embassy in Rome in the presence of the chargé d’affaires Victoria Senior and Sylvia Amaya Londoño.

Dr Buhagiar graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Malta and furthered his studies at doctoral level at the University of Birmingham in the UK. His specialisation is surface engineering with particular reference to the biomedical sector.

He has had a number of papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. He is Malta’s representative in Brussels on the Coal and Steel Committee and is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Surface Engineering and Journal of China Surface Engineering.

Dr Buhagiar said he would seek to strengthen collaboration between Malta and Colombia in areas such as commerce, culture, bilingualism, tourism, and scientific and tertiary education.

Dr Buhagiar, who will be working closely with the Embassy and Consulate of Colombia in Rome, said the Consulate in Malta is an important reference point for Colombians living on the island as well as visitors who need assistance.

The Honorary Consulate is at 64, Cardinal Xiberras Street, Qormi.

To arrange an appointment, e-mail joseph.p.buhagiar@um.edu.mt or call 9989 2745.