14 November 2013
ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Malta officially unveiled its new board and a brand new website, www.itsmalta.eu, during a cocktail party for stakeholders in Ta’ Xbiex earlier this month. The revived board and website enable the organisation to be part of the global ITS community.
Earlier this year, MOUs were signed in Dublin with ITS UK and ITS Ireland. Letters of support for ITSMalta have been received from ITS organisations around the world, including ERTICO, Ireland, Italy and New Zealand. ITSMalta now truly provides networking opportunities to most transport and logistics stakeholders and, via connectBaltica, can also act as a bridge from the south to the north of Europe.
According to Secretary-General Alex Borg: “The foundations are in place. Now it is up to us to take it to the next level.” The Board includes members from the Malta Council for Science & Technology, Transport Malta and transport and logistics companies.
The event was held in the palatial HQ of the Institute of Healthy Happiness, a local company and benefactor, and was also sponsored by B&T Signaal and HandsOn Systems. The gathering was addressed by Austrian Ambassador Petra Schneebauer and was supported by the Austrian community. ITSMalta thanked Alexander Hauser for providing the venue and the Austrian food.
The cocktail party was a landmark event, enthusiastically supported by members of the Maltese ITS industry. It welcomed representatives from countries including Denmark, Spain, Albania and Germany, and the Jordanian Ambassador. UK presence was provided by Sharon Kindleysides, ITS UK Chair, and Keith Mortimer, who is a Board member of the association. Sharon remarked, “ITS UK will strongly support ITSMalta, especially since we are both islands and face very similar challenges.”
Another board member, Dr Christoph Demuth of ConnectBaltica, said: “Creating an ITS cluster enables the domestic ICT industry to grow locally and abroad by using Malta as a grand ITS showroom.” David Seisun of HandsOn agreed, adding that “Intelligent Transport Systems are important to make traffic flow.”
Following the launch ITSMalta aims to attract local and international members, including public sector agencies, large and small companies, and interested individuals. A membership pack may be downloaded from the group’s website.
ITS working groups comprising academic, public and private stakeholders will be set up to form a platform for Intelligent Transport Systems. The first annual ITSMalta convention will be held on 21-22 February, 2014, as part of the TransLog Malta Awards and the Transport Practitioners Forum.
For more information: www.itsmalta.eu.
Media contact:
Malcolm J Naudi
Malcolm J Naudi Communications
Tel.: +356 2137-0495; +356 9990-0207
E-Mail: info@mjncommunications.com
About ITSMalta
ITSMalta is a not-for-profit public/private sector association established by volunteers to raise the profile of Intelligent Transport Systems in Malta. ITSMalta was founded in 2007 by its Chairman Dr Philip Agius as part of Touring Club Malta, which is a member of FIA. Today it is relaunched as an independent organisation promoting the use of ITS in Malta.
The association’s goal is to enable the private and public sectors to engage in a collaboration platform that brings together government, academic and business stakeholders. By doing so, the organisation promotes ICT-based services and solutions for improved traffic flow, safety and environmental friendliness. As an organised industry platform, ITSMalta therefore aims to promote the interest of Maltese ITS stakeholders and build bridges between them.
The association provides a number of networking opportunities through newsletters, conferences, seminars and workshops and by engaging with the media on the use of ICT in transportation. ITSMalta also serves as a platform for students in Intelligent Transport Systems.
ITS Malta is registered under the No: VO/0809 with the office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations.
The ITS Board is composed of Alex Borg, Keith Mortimer, Carm Cachia, Dr Christoph Demuth, David Seisun, Dr Philip Agius, Perit Mannie Galea, Perita Rene Savona Ventura, Perita Audrey Testaferrata de Noto, Charles Bartolo, Ing. Joe Sammut, Prof. Svetozar Hegyi and Dr Michael Grech.
