2008
Malta-Commonwealth Third Country Training Programme
COMPETITIVENESS
STRATEGIES
FOR SMALL STATES
Valletta, Malta
5-16 May 2008
Organised by
The Islands and Small States Institute
in collaboration with the
Foundation for International Studies
of the University of Malta
Sponsored by the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation,
Commonwealth Secretariat, London
and the
Malta Cooperation Progamme
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
Dates, Venue and Organisation
The workshop will take place in Malta between 5th and 16th May 2008 at the Foundation for International
Studies, St Paul Street, Valletta. It is being organised by the Islands and Small States Institute in
collaboration with the Foundation for International Studies of the University of Malta. The Workshop
is sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) of the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Malta Cooperation Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The programme, spread over two weeks, will consist mainly of presentations by resource persons on
different aspects of the main theme, and country presentations by the participants. These will all be
followed by discussion. In addition, field visits to the Federation of Industry, Malta Enterprise and
other relevant institutions in Malta will be organised. There will also be a social programme including
welcome drinks on the first day of the workshop, two daily coffee break sessions, a walking tour
around Valletta, a one-day excursion to the Island of Gozo with guide, and a dinner at the end of the
programme.
Workshop Objectives
The aim of the workshop is to disseminate knowledge and provide training on Competitiveness
Strategies, covering a variety of themes with a focus on small states. Another objective of the workshop
is to enable the participants to benefit from the sharing of ideas and experiences during discussions.
Target Participants
The workshop is primarily intended for senior and middle management officials, operating in public
sector institutions, and government agencies with responsibility for trade, commerce and industrial
development. Participants should be nominated by their national governments and sponsored by the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. A limited number of self-funded participants can
also participate.
Country Presentations and Personal Action Plans
Participants will be expected to present a brief paper describing the competitiveness strategies adopted
in their respective countries. Two days will be assigned for these presentations, with 15 minutes
being allocated for each country. These presentations will serve as case studies of the competitiveness
constraints and opportunities in the respective countries. In addition the presentations should include
a section on the implications of these for future policies and strategies, together with an outline plan
of suggested actions that could be taken in the respective country to improve competitiveness.
Language of Instruction
The course will be conducted in English, and all participants are expected to have a good working
knowledge of the English language.
Certificates
Certificates of attendance will be awarded to those participants who complete the entire programme.
The certificates will be issued by the Islands and Small States Institute and the Foundation for
International Studies of the University of Malta, the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation
and the Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
TERMS OF THE AWARD
Candidates Accepted for Sponsorship
Candidates who are accepted for sponsorship under the terms of the Malta-Commonwealth Third
Country Training Programme and the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) will
have their course fees and hotel accommodation on half board basis (i.e. including breakfast and an
evening meal) paid for them. In addition they will receive a subsistence allowance of ¤200 for the
duration of the programme. The selected participants themselves, or their employer or the nominating
Government, will be responsible for air travel to and from Malta. The award covers accommodation
for 13 nights, from the 4th to 16th May 2008. Extended stays beyond these dates must be met by the
participants. Participants are urged to supplement this amount with additional spending money to
cover incidental expenses such as telephone calls, fax messages, drinks at the hotel bar and other
such expenses.
Applications and Nominations
In order to qualify for sponsorship, applicants must be nominated through the Governance and
Institutional Division’s Point of Contact (POC) in their country. Nominated applicants must complete
the appropriate nomination forms (GID/1) available from the Point of Contact in their own country.
Completed forms must be received by the Director, Governance and Institutional Development Division
of the Commonwealth Secretariat, copied to the Director of the Islands and Small States Institute, by
not later than 20 March 2008.
All application forms should be duly endorsed by the respective POC and should be forwarded to:
The Director, Governance and Institutional Development Division
Attn: Ms Pauline Campbell
Programme Officer, Governance and Institutional Development Division
Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, UK
Tel: (44) 207-747-6321/ 6588; Fax: (44) 207-747-6515/6335.
email: p.campbell@commonwealth.int
Copies of the application and nomination forms should also be sent to:
The Director, Islands and Small States Institute
Attn: Ms Maryrose Vella
Foundation for International Studies, St Paul Street, Valletta, VLT 2016, Malta
Tel: (356)21240746; (356)7905 8969. Fax: (356)21240746 / 21230551
email: maryrose.vella@fis.org.mt
Self-funded Applicants
Persons who do not qualify for sponsorship under the Malta-Commonwealth Third Country Training
Progamme may still apply to join the course and will be charged a fee of ¤600 (approx. US$825) to
cover tuition fees, course documentation, lunches and the social programme. Interested persons are
to contact Ms Maryrose Vella at the above address requesting a special application form.
PROGR
Sunday 4 May
Arrival of Participants
Monday 5 May INAUGURAL SESSION
0900-0945: Opening session and welcome speeches
0945-1000: Short break
1000-1100: The Meaning of National Competitiveness
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Competitiveness and Economic Growth
1215-1400: Lunch
1400-1500: The Role of Trade Unions in the Promotion of Competitiveness
1500-1515: Short break
1515-1615: Developing Social Consensus Towards a Competitiveness Strategy
1615-1700: Housekeeping notices and settlement of per diem
1700-1800: Walking tour around Valletta
1800-1900: Welcome Drinks at the Foundation for International Studies
1900:
Return to Hotel
Tuesday 6 May
0900-1000: Increasing the Innovation Capacity of the Country
1000-1100: Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Enterprise Competitiveness and Restructuring
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1645: Visit to the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprises (IPSE)
1700:
Return to Hotel
Wednesday 7 May
0900-1000: Public Sector Effectiveness and Efficiency
1000-1100: How does Good Governance Contribute to Competitiveness?
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: The Ethical Implications of Trade
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1630: Visit to the Malta Chamber of Commerce
1700:
Return to Hotel
Thursday 8 May
COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS
0900-1100: Country Case-Study Presentations
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Country Case-Study Presentations
1215-1400: Lunch
1400-1645: Country Case-Study Presentations
1700:
Return to Hotel
Friday 9 May
0900-1000: Financial Sector Development and Competitiveness
1000-1100: Monetary Exchange Rate Policies and Competitiveness
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Small Enterprise Competitiveness and Restructuring
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1630: Visit to the Malta Freeport, B’Bugia
1630:
Return to Hotel
Saturday 10 May
EXCURSION
0900-1700: Day trip to the Island of Gozo
Sunday 11 May
FREE DAY
RAMME
Monday 12 May
0900-1000: Human Resource Development Strategies and Competitiveness
1000-1100: Managing Export Risk
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Institutional Support for Export Marketing
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1645: Visit to Malta Federation of Industry (FOI)
1700:
Return to Hotel
Tuesday 13 May
COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS
0900-1100: Country Case-Study Presentations
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Country Case-Study Presentations
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1645: Country Case-Study Presentations
1700:
Return to Hotel
Wednesday 14 May
0900-1100: Sectoral Competitiveness and Industrial Clustering
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: The Operations of Security Exchanges and the Relationship with Competitiveness
1215-1400: Lunch
1400-1500: Increasing the Innovation Capacity of the Country
1500-1515: Short break
1515-1615: Regulation and Competitiveness
1615-1700: The GRTU and the Competitiveness Agenda
1700:
Return to Hotel
Thursday 15 May
0900-1000: Regional Integration and Small States
1000-1100: Small Business Strategies: Developing Private Sector Capacity
1110-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: International Trade and the Environment
1215-1400: Lunch
1430-1645: Visit to S.T. Microelectronics, Kirkop
1700
Return to Hotel
Friday 16 May FINAL SEMINAR, EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION
0900-1100: Seminar addressed by Panel of Speakers
• Innovation Policy and Small States
• Vulnerability, Resilience and Competitiveness in Small States
1100-1115: Coffee Break
1115-1215: Evaluation of Workshop and Conclusion
1215-1400: Lunch
1400-1500: Presentation and Adoption of Final Report
1500-1515: Short break
1515-1615: Presentation of Certificates and Concluding Speeches
1700
Return to Hotel
2000
Farewell dinner
Notes
All lecture and discussion sessions will take place at the Aula Magna of the Foundation for
International Studies, University Building, St Paul Street, Valletta. Transport will be provided
from the Hotel to the Foundation for International Studies every morning and back to the hotel
every evening. Transport in connection with the visits to the institutions will be free of charge. All
lectures and discussion sessions will be conducted in the English language. Refreshments during
coffee breaks and lunches are free of charge.
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Travel
Airfares and travel expenses to and from Malta are to be borne by the participants, their employer or the
nominating Government. Participants should ensure that they have adequate insurance cover during their stay
in Malta as they will be fully responsible for all medical costs, and for the costs arising from any loss or theft of
personal belongings.
.
Visas
Participants should hold a valid entry visa before they arrive in Malta. Participants who intend to stop over in a
third country on their way to Malta are also advised to obtain the required transit visas before leaving their
country. Participants are expected to arrive in Malta on 4 May 2008. As Malta is now within the Schengen
Agreement, applicants are expected to hold the relevant entry requirement. Prospective participants should
apply for a Schengen visa through the respective foreign offices in their country. Participants are advised to
make the necessary arrangements in good time for the visa to be issued before they leave their country.
Arrival/Departure Transfers
Participants are to inform the Course Secretariat of their arrival and departure time and dates, confirming also
their visa status. The Secretariat will arrange a reception at the airport and transfers from the Malta International
Airport to the Hotel.
Insurance
Participants are advised that before coming to Malta, they should secure overseas travel, accident and health
insurance cover for the duration of their stay in Malta.
Hotel Accommodation
Participants will be accommodated in a hotel on half-board basis. Transport will be provided from the hotel to
the conference venue and back. Participants are urged to bring additional funds to cover expenses such as
telephone and other sundry costs not covered by the award. These costs are the responsibility of the participants,
their employers or the nominating Government. No additional payments will be made by the CFTC, ISSI, or the
Government of Malta. Participants and/or their respective Ministries will be responsible for the cost of
accommodation and living expenses beyond the duration of 13 nights.
Programme Changes
The Islands and Small States Institute reserves the right to effect changes to the programme and to cancel the
programme altogether should there be insufficient number of registrations.
Map of Valletta
and Location
of the
Foundation
for International
Studies
FIS
Foundation for
International Studies
St. Paul’s Street
THE ORGANISERS
THE GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION (GIDD)
OF THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT
The role of the GIDD is to help governments and the
private sector strengthen their structures of governance
and administration. Its activities are informed by the
values of democracy, good governance, human rights,
gender equality and a more equitable sharing of the
benefits of globalisation. Often in collaboration with
other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions, the GIDD
provides advisory services, experts and training. It also
runs the Commonwealth Service Abroad Programme
(CSAP), which deploys skilled volunteers to promote
people-centred programmes. The GIDD provides a
range of technical assistance to help governments
reform their public services. Each programme is tailored
to the needs of the country or region. It also supports
institutions of governance and facilitates democratic
oversight. It helps develop and strengthen
parliamentary committee systems and Ombudsman
offices, as well as bodies to promote human rights and
to combat corruption and money-laundering. The GIDD
provides project managers, engineers, scientists and
technicians in environmental management and physical
infrastructure. Empowering women and vulnerable
people is a key part of GIDD’s work. With other divisions
of the Commonwealth Secretariat, GIDD promotes
women’s participation in governance and ensures that
they benefit from development.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALTA
The Malta Co-operation Programme at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs provides the means for Maltese
professionals to share their experience and skills with
participants from developing countries and small states
with limited human resources. Having attained, over
the years, a high degree of competence in human
resources development, and fully supportive of the
Commonwealth’s efforts in the field of development
training, Malta has embarked on the Third Country
Training Programme. Under this scheme, specialised
training has been delivered in the fields of information
technology, education planning in small states, port
management and insurance management. The MaltaCommonwealth Third Country Training Programme
marks the transition from technical assistance to mutual
co-operation between Malta and its Commonwealth
partners. This programme of co-operation is jointly
funded and administered by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and was
formally established in 1995 as a programme to train
senior to middle level personnel from developing
countries of the Commonwealth.
THE ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES INSTITUTE
The Islands and Small States Institute is based at the
University of Malta. The Institute which was previously
based at the Old University Building in Valletta, was
established in 1989 with the aim of promoting research
and training on economic, social, cultural, ecological
and geographical aspects of islands and small states.
The Institute organises international conferences,
training workshops and seminars on themes related
to its overall aims. It runs programmes leading to the
MA, MPhil and PhD degrees in island and small states
studies. It also operates a network of communication
between institutions and individuals engaged in
research and training related to the aims of the Institute
and undertakes consultancy assignments for
international organisations. The Institute publishes
Occasional Papers on Islands and Small States (ISSN
1024-6282). The Institute also collaborates in the
publishing of books with major publishers notably
Cassell/Pinter of London (Islands Series). An important
contribution made by the Institute was the construction
of the economic vulnerability index.
FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
The Foundation for International Studies, which forms
part of the University of Malta, was set up in 1986, as
a self-governing organisation. It is located in Valletta
in a magnificent baroque building which originally
housed the University of Malta. The University, which
was first estblished in 1592, today has moved to a
modern and spacious campus outside town, and has
close to 10,000 students, of whom ten per cent are
internationl students coming from 80 different
countries. The Foundation has handled conferences
and programmes for international organisations (such
as the European Commission, UNESCO, the Council
of Europe, the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNEP,
UNHCR, UNICRI). The Aula Magna, previously the
University’s examination hall, is a major venue for high
profile international conferences, seminars and public
lectures, and has provided the right setting for the
promotion of greater understanding amongst peoples,
whatever their race or religion. Among the
distinguished personalities who have graced the
podium of the Aula Magna, one finds Prof. Arvid Pardo,
Prince Rainier III and his son Prince Albert of Monaco,
Mr Shimon Peres, Prof. Federico Mayor, and other.
Due to the excellent reputation which the Foundation
has acquired over the years, many institutions seek
the Foundation’s participation as partner in various
projects. When the Foundation does not have in-house
expertise in a given topic, it draws on the large reserve
of expertise available within the University of Malta.
THE MALTESE ISLANDS
Restaurants
Geography
There are a variety of restaurants located in Sliema,
The Maltese islands lie in the middle of the
St Julians, Valletta, St Paul's Bay and other tourist
Mediterranean Sea about 100 km south of Sicily and
areas, ranging from fast food shops to more expensive
300 km off North Africa. Their
eating places. Food in Malta is often
total area is about 320 square km.
Gozo
influenced by Italian cuisine, but
The largest island is Malta with a
there are many restaurants serving
total area of 246 square km, while
Comino
oriental food. Some restaurants offer
the second largest, Gozo has an
a typically Maltese cuisine, which is
area of 67 square km. The total
often fish based.
population of Malta is about
400,000, of which about 10% live
VALLETTA
in Gozo.
Mainland
Malta
Climate
The climate of the Maltese Islands
is typically Mediterranean. A
forecast of the weather conditions
and average temperatures during
the days of the workshop can be
viewed on:
http://www.choosemalta.com/weather.php
Currency
Malta's currency is now the euro (€) which is divided
into 100 cents. At the time of publication of this brochure
the exchange rate is approximately US$1.4 to the euro.
Language
The official languages are Maltese and English. Almost
all Maltese speak Eglish while Italian is widely spoken.
Banks
Banks are usually open from 08:30 hrs to 12:30 hrs,
Mondays to Fridays, and up to 12:00 hrs on Saturdays,
with extended times in the afternoon between Mondays
and Fridays. Foreign exchange facilities are available
at Malta International Airport and at a number of
automated teller machines situated in the major
commercial and touristic areas, all on a 24-hour basis.
They are also available at most banks and foreign
exchange bureaus.
Shopping
Opening hours for shops in Malta are between 09:00
hrs and 19:00 hrs, with a lunch break between 13:00
hrs and 16:00 hrs. Opening hours are however
extended in commercial and touristic areas. Shops do
not open on Sundays and public holidays. Major credit
cards, travellers’ cheques and Eurocheques are
accepted at most shops and restaurants.
Transport
Malta's public bus transport system is very cheap and
provides an extensive network throughout the Island.
Taxis can be identified by their all-white livery. In order
to check the cost of a taxi ride, it is advisable to neotiate
with the driver beforehand.
Medical care
Malta enjoys a high standard of medical care, and there
are several public and private hospitals and clinics on
the islands.
Electricity
Electricity supply is 240 volts, single phase 50 cycle.
The square-fitting standard 3-pin British plugs and
sockets are used.