GRTU welcomes Grimaldi

GRTU – Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – represents the widest cross section of traders, retailers and people in business. GRTU believes that Commerce in Malta depends to an extremely high degree on excellent shipping services. These services cannot be guaranteed by companies that are in financial difficulties and who depend on state subsidies to stay afloat. The situation that has emerged in Sea Malta indicated most obviously that privatisation is the best solution. GRTU notes with satisfaction that the chosen strategic partner, Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione, is an excellent choice that augurs well for a good future for commerce and industry.

GRTU – Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – represents the widest cross section of traders, retailers and people in business. GRTU believes that Commerce in Malta depends to an extremely high degree on excellent shipping services. These services cannot be guaranteed by companies that are in financial difficulties and who depend on state subsidies to stay afloat. The situation that has emerged in Sea Malta indicated most obviously that privatisation is the best solution. GRTU notes with satisfaction that the chosen strategic partner, Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione, is an excellent choice that augurs well for a good future for commerce and industry.

GRTU has supported Government’s drive to seek the right privitisation solution. From discussions GRTU had with Dott. Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of Atlantica SPA di Navigazione and with Dott. Gianluca Grimaldi, Managing Director of Grimaldi SPA and Mr Ernest Sullivan designate head of Sea Malta after privatisation, GRTU is satisfied that the Grimaldi Group is committed not only to provide Maltese commerce and industry with enhanced and expanded shipping services at more competitive tariff rates, but also that Grimaldi would provide an important additional boost to Malta’s ambition to return to its traditional vocation as an important shipping port in the center of the Mediterranean.

GRTU believes that these ambitions and the resultant economic advantages can only be achieved through Malta’s successful attraction of significant strategic partners in those areas that are essential for our economic survival. The Sea Malta privatisation solution carries GRTU’s approval as GRTU believes that ownership of important infrastructural services is not the most important factor as it makes no difference whether ownership is private or public, the importance is that an enterprise is managed well and financially sound. The more important role is that of the Public Regulator who, on behalf, of the public and commerce and industry , is responsible to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded.