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The Foreign Minister of Malta, His Excellency, Dr. Michael Frendo called on the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T. R. Baalu, here today. He was accompanied by the Ambassador and senior officials of the Government of Malta. Senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of External Affairs were also present on this occasion.
During the Meeting, Dr. Frendo called for cooperation between India and Malta in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and sought India’s support for re-election of Malta to the IMO Council. Thiru Baalu agreed to consider the issue favorably on a mutual basis, i.e., subject to Malta’s support for India’s candidature to the Council.
The issue of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) getting recognition from the European Union (EU) was also discussed. Malta is the 5th largest Registry in the world and over 1700 Indian officers work on ships under Maltese flag. The visiting Maltese Foreign Minister offered that details of Maltese Registry could be studied by the Indian side for promoting the proposed Indian International Registry.
Thiru Baalu also raised the issue of port state control detention of SCI ship MV Lok Maheshwari while going for dry-docking in Malta in January this year, as this could be a deterrent for future dry-docking of Indian vessels in Malta. Dr. Frendo agreed to look into the matter.
The two leaders agreed to take steps for greater maritime cooperation between India and Malta in future.
NSD/BS
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