The Foreign Affairs Ministry is committed to implementing recommendations made by a Board of Review last year, Foreign Minister George Vella said in Parliament.
The recommendations include training to promote Malta in every possible way through embassies and consulates and making preparations for Malta’s EU Presidency in 2017.
Answering a parliamentary question by Carm Mifsud Bonnici (PN), Dr Vella said several recommendations had already been implemented or were being put in place.
In June and July, training had been given to ministry officials and new ambassadors.
This had been conducted in conjunction with Malta Enterprise and would be held again as and when needed.
The ministry had undergone structural changes last August.
These had included the setting up of a unit for commercial and economic affairs to collaborate with other ministerial and public entities with a view to strengthening the promotion of Malta in trade circles by its embassies.
Dr Vella said a first meeting of the Joint Stakeholders Working Council was held in September. It was made up of representatives of entities charged with promoting Malta as open to investment and trade.
The council was overseeing Malta’s promotion and identifying sectors or countries of the greatest interest for the country.
In keeping with the Board of Review’s recommendations, the structural changes at the ministry had also included setting up a Legal Unit.
The ministry’s work was now being taken care of by two directorate-generals: one for political, EU affairs and Maltese living abroad and the other for global issues, international development and economic affairs.
In the pipeline was the publication of a monthly online newsletter starting next month. The overriding aim was to enhance communications among the various sectors making up the ministry.
Changes had also been made to the ministry’s website with various links to other government agencies, as well as further development of the ministry’s intranet.
Dr Vella said the Board of Review had recommended that the work done in Maltese embassies should be recorded more regularly. This had been achieved through a reporting system on the basis of a template designed by the ministry.
As for increasing Malta’s presence and visibility in other countries, the ministry was working on the opening of an embassy in Qatar and representations in Algeria, Shanghai, Misurata, Saõ Paolo and the United Arab Emirates.
More honorary consuls had been appointed, and two people were engaged on internships.
Discussions were taking place with the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of Electoral Manifesto for appropriate training to be given to personnel ahead of Malta taking over the EU presidency in 2017.