OPR- Monday, 7th November, 2005

The President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami today met His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain at the Palacio de la Zarzuela in Madrid at the start of his official visit to the Kingdom of Spain. During the meeting, The President and the King discussed matters of common interests between the two countries.

The meeting was followed by a luncheon hosted by the King and The Queen of Spain in honour of the President and Mrs. Fenech Adami at Palacio Real de Madrid. During his speech, His Majesty thanked The President for the invitation extended to him and Queen Sofia to visit Malta and remarked that they were looking forward to the visit in the near future.

His Majesty said that relations between the two countries had acquired a new dimension through European Membership. He also highlighted the importance of the upcoming summit in Barcelona commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the Barcelona Process and thanked Malta for its valuable involvement.

In his speech, The President of Malta said that bilateral relations between the two countries are being consolidated through Spanish investment in Malta with the opening of Hotels, pharmaceutical factories in the electronic sector.

Earlier in the day, on his arrival to Madrid H.E. The President was given an official welcome by a Guard of Honour formed by the three forces.

During his first day of a four day visit in Spain, President Fenech Adami also met H.E. Mr. Manuel Marín González, Speaker of the Congress of Deputies and H.E. Mr. Mariano Rajoy Brey, President of the Popular Party. Tomorrow the President is expected to meet the Prime Minister of Spain, H.E. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The President ended his first day of his official visit when he delivered the closing address at a Business Seminar organized by the Malta Enterprise

Later in the evening a business seminar organised by the Malta Enterprise will be addressed by the Hon. Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the premises of the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain (CEOE).  This seminar will include a Business Presentation entitled “Malta – Spain – A Business Partnership”.  Participants at this seminar include Philip Micallef, CEO of the Malta Enterprise, Romwald Lungaro Mifsud, Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority, Mark Guillaumier, CEO – Malta Stock Exchange and Stephen Ciantar, Marketing and Sales Manager – Hetronic Malta Ltd. Another business seminar is expected to be held on Wednesday 9^th November in Barcellona.

This seminar presented an opportunity for Maltese business representatives to penetrate the Spanish market. Spanish counterpart companies will be present in the business seminars and one-to-one-meetings are being organized for these companies. The objective of these business seminars is to concentrate on investment promotion in the pharma, ICT, automotive components and back-office sectors as well as to promote Malta as a good business location.