GRTU welcomes Freeport Initiatives

GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs, welcomes the new
initiatives launched earlier on this week by the Malta Freeport. Mr Paul Abela,
President, on behalf of GRTU members would like to thank Malta Freeport
Officials for taking on board most of GRTU's proposals during meetings held
with the aim to continuously step up the services being offered to the local
businesses.

As from Monday 9th September GRTU members will
be benefiting from the following initiatives:

Delivery Gate Extended Operating Times

After a detailed survey was carried out by
Malta Freeport over the past months involving all key players within the
domestic market, Malta Freeport will be extending its operating times as
follows:

From Monday to Friday:

MFT Delivery Gate will open from 06:30 hrs to 17:45
hrs

MFT Delivery Gate will not close
for break-time

On Saturdays:

MFT Delivery Gate opening times
will remain unchanged i.e. 08:00 hrs to 11:30 hrs

Customers will still have the possibility to send a
request for the release of urgent containers during the remaining hours as per
procedures already in place.

Community Portal

Also from Monday 9th September, Malta Freeport will be
launching the ‘Community Portal'.  The
information in this portal can be accessed without the use of a password but
simply by keying in the container number being queried. This service is being
offered following last year's successful implementation of Malta Freeport's
‘web portal'.

The information provided through the ‘Community
Portal' will ably assist the local and international business community
particularly the end consumers of Malta Freeport as it will be providing them
with on-line container tracking information. The Portal will also be providing
the community with updated real-time vessel operations schedule, a function
widely requested by clients. The tool will also provide transparent and easily
available information to end clients which will reduce administration
processes.

Operations at Main Gate

GRTU is also pleased that Malta
Freeport has embarked on an ambitious project to increase efficiency in its
gate operations to reduce as much as possible the paperwork related to its Main
Gate operations. The work undertaken to-date is already reaching the required
positive results. The discussions held with the various stakeholders have
already led to notable enhancements in the operational processes. Malta
Freeport is sustaining its resources in this project to ensure that further
remarkable results will be witnessed over the coming months.