#mms22
Source: nigel@lowry.gr
Originally published: https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1139613/Malta-Maritime-Summit-eyes-2022-comeback
Valetta conference is being scheduled for October, making it the third major industry event in southern Europe to aim for a return this year after a disruption caused by the pandemic
Organisers say flagship maritime event will cleave to its successful model, but also offer industry awards for the first time.
MARITIME OFFICIALS FROM MALTA, GREECE AND CYPRUS AT THE FIRST MALTA MARITIME SUMMIT IN 2016. ALL THREE COUNTRIES HOPE TO HOST THEIR FLAGSHIP MARITIME INDUSTRY EVENTS THIS YEAR
The Malta Maritime Summit has become the latest flagship national shipping event to confirm that it will return in 2022 after having its previous edition blown off course by the coronavirus pandemic. The biennial conference, which takes place in Valetta, was cancelled in 2020 because of the spread of the virus. It will be scheduled this year to run from October 3-7.
GM International Conferences & Exhibitions, which organises the event in co-operation with Transport Malta, confirmed the decision to proceed, which will be formally announced in the next few days.
Organiser John Gauci-Maistre said the event would follow its established format with days devoted primarily to technology, environment and finance.
“We are going ahead,” he told Lloyd’s List. “We will not be postponing again.”
Although the organisers are optimistic about conditions later this year, ‘Plan B’ would be a virtual event rather than cancellation outright.
The 2022 event will see the launch of Malta’s maritime industry awards and the intention is to award these every two years during the course of the summit.
Sticking to its previous early-October slot is likely to put it just ahead of Maritime Cyprus, which was cancelled last year due to pandemic-related difficulties and has also rescheduled for October.