Maltese Participation at Customs Exhibition in Paris

The Malta Customs Department was invited to participate in an exhibition organised by the History Association of the French Customs Administration. The exhibition, which was inaugurated on the 21st September 1999, remained open until the 29th November in the Exhibition Hall of the Chaillot Palace, just in front of the Eiffel Tower. A variety of exhibits were submitted by different European Customs administrations.

The Malta Customs participation principally consisted of two exhibits: a diorama of the Custom House and a model of the Customs Launch. The models were hand crafted in wood by Mr Joe Able, a professional model-maker at the Maritime Museum.

The Customs Department provided the organisers of the exhibition with a brief history of the Maltese Customs, prepared by Mr Victor Wickman and photographs were also referred to feature in a booklet which was published for the occasion.

Apart from respecting its commitment to co-operate with foreign counterparts, the Maltese Customs Department considers the participation in the Paris exhibition as an opportunity to publicise Malta.

Feedback obtained from the French organisers indicates that the Maltese models have attracted considerable interest from visitors to the exhibition.