Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this afternoon met Chairman of EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee Masami Iijima, a close collaborator of Valletta 2018 in its experience as the European Capital of Culture

 

​Dr Muscat and Mr Iijima expressed satisfaction at a very fruitful relationship which has developed between the two sides and which has resulted in concrete assistance towards numerous cultural projects. Prime Minister Muscat stressed on the importance of a lasting legacy beyond 2018 and said he therefore looked forward on strengthening further co-operation with the EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee. 

 

As Chairman of Mitsui and Co. Ltd, a leading multi-national corporation operating in major business areas, Mr Iijima also referred to new business opportunties in Malta. Ahead of Dr Muscat’s visit in Japan next month, the two sides discussed investment in latest alternative energy technologies, offering great potential to Malta, of which Mitsui are on the forefront.

 

The Prime Minister also spoke about Malta being the first jurisdiction which will have a fully-fledged new legislation in the Distributed Ledger Technology. At least 10 major blockchain companies have already announced relocation to Malta and this area could create an ecosystem which offers unprecedented career opportunities in the Maltese islands.  

 

Among those present at this meeting were the Ambassador of Japan to the European Union, the Ambassador of Japan to Malta, and the Ambassador of Malta to Japan.