FANFANI ARRIVES; FANFANI SIGNS; OLIVIER SIGNS.




Initials PW/VS/MR/ES



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Background: ITALY AND MALTA SIGNED A TRADE AGREEMENT IN VALETTA YESTERDAY WHICH WILL MEAN CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IN THE FIELDS OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS.

ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER, AMINTORE FANFANI AND MALTESE PREMIER AND FOREIGN MINISTER DR BORG OLIVIER SIGNED THE AGREEMENT AT THE MALTESE FOREIGN MINISTRY.

UNDER THE CO-OPERATIVE AGREEMENT, ITALY WILL FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE ITALIAN PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON THE ISLAND AND BOTH COUNTRIES UNDERTAKE NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST EACH OTHER'S SHIPPING.

THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WILL TAKE STEPS TO ALLOW THEIR NATIONALS TO INVEST IN THE OTHER COUNTRY AND TO TRANSFER CAPITAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. IN THE FIELD OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION, ITALY AND MALTA WILL EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND TEACHERS.

MEANWHILE, A SERIOUS EMPLOYMENT PROBLEM EXISTS IN MALTA FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE SUEZ CANAL, WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOCKYARD WORKERS TO BE MADE REDUNDANT.