Adm. Ossama Rabiee: "The Suez Canal continues to maintain effective communication with the various institutions and active stakeholders in the maritime sector"
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta: "Cooperation with the Suez Canal is an important opportunity for joint work and a cornerstone of the bilateral relations between the two countries"
Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), received Mr. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, accompanied by André Spiteri, Malta's Ambassador to Cairo, to discuss cooperation opportunities in areas of mutual interest. The meeting was held at the Authority's headquarters in the Irshad Building in Ismailia.
At the outset of the meeting, Adm. Rabiee stressed the depth of the strategic relations between Egypt and Malta at both the official and popular levels. He also expressed that the two countries have close views on many important issues, which enhances prospects for economic and maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The SCA Chairman noted that the Suez Canal continues to maintain effective communication with the various institutions and active parties in the maritime sector, serving common interests and supporting the maritime transport industry and the sustainability of global supply chains.
Adm. Rabiee added that the Canal has managed to strengthen its standing in the shipping community by developing and modernizing the navigation and logistics services offered to transiting vessels, and by adding new activities and lines of business in partnership with global and local partners.
SCA chairman also pointed to the Authority's extensive expertise in the fields of dredging, marine construction and port works, ship maintenance and repair, and the construction of marine units. He also extended invitation to the Maltese companies and institutions working in the maritime sector to cooperate with the SCA and its subsidiaries.
For his part, Mr. Cutajar underlined the pivotal role of the Suez Canal in linking global trade between the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.
The Permanent Secretary explained that Malta's economy is directly tied to maritime activity, making cooperation with the Canal an important opportunity for joint work and a pillar supporting bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also voiced his country's interest in the fields of training, and building tugboats and fishing vessels, noting his keenness to explore potential areas of cooperation with the SCA through the relevant Maltese bodies in these sectors. He added that the coming period will witness reciprocal visits and working meetings between the two sides.
