*Malta, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Malta
conventional short form:
Malta
Digraph:
MT
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Valletta
Administrative divisions:
none (administration directly from Valletta)
Independence:
21 September 1964 (from UK)
Constitution:
26 April 1974, effective 2 June 1974
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September
Political parties and leaders:
Nationalist Party (NP), Edward FENECH ADAMI; Malta Labor Party (MLP), Alfred
SANT
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 22 February 1992 (next to be held by February 1997); results -
NP 51.8%, MLP 46.5%; seats - (usually 65 total) MLP 36, NP 29; note -
additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to
ensure a legislative majority; current total 69 (MLP 33, NP 36 after
adjustment)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Vincent (Censu) TABONE (since 4 April 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Dr. Edward (Eddie) FENECH ADAMI (since 12 May 1987); Deputy
Prime Minister Dr. Guido DE MARCO (since 14 May 1987)
Member of:
C, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Albert BORG OLIVIER DE PUGET
chancery:
2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 462-3611 or 3612
FAX:
(202) 387-5470
*Malta, Government
consulate:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta
mailing address:
P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone:
[356] 240424, 240425, 243216, 243217, 243653, 223654
FAX:
same as telephone numbers
Flag:
two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper
hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
*Malta, Economy
Overview:
Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a
productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has
limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources.
Consequently, the economy is highly dependent on foreign trade and services.
Manufacturing and tourism are the largest contributors to the economy.
Manufacturing accounts for about 27% of GDP, with the electronics and
textile industries major contributors and the state-owned Malta drydocks
employing about 4,300 people. In 1991, about 900,000 tourists visited the
island. Per capita GDP at $7,600 places Malta in the middle-income range of
the world's nations.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.9% (1991)
National product per capita:
$7,600 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $161 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$l.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, ships
partners:
Italy 30%, Germany 22%, UK 11%
Imports:
$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods
partners:
Italy 30%, UK 16%, Germany 13%, US 4%
External debt:
$127 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 19.0% (1990); accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity:
328,000 kW capacity; 1,110 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, electronics, ship repair yard, construction, food manufacturing,
textiles, footwear, clothing, beverages, tobacco
Agriculture:
accounts for 3% of GDP and 2.5% of the work force (1992); overall, 20%
self-sufficient; main products - potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat,
barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers, hogs, poultry, eggs;
generally adequate supplies of vegetables, poultry, milk, pork products;
seasonal or periodic shortages in grain, animal fodder, fruits, other basic
foodstuffs
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $172 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $336 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $76 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $48
million
Currency:
1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
*Malta, Economy
Exchange rates:
Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3687 (January 1993), 0.3178 (1992), 0.3226
(1991), 0.3172 (1990), 0.3483 (1989), 0.3306 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Malta, Communications
Highways:
1,291 km total; 1,179 km paved (asphalt), 77 km crushed stone or gravel, 35
km improved and unimproved earth
Ports:
Valletta, Marsaxlokk
Merchant marine:
789 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,059,874 GRT/18,758,969 DWT;
includes 6 passenger, 17 short-sea passenger, 272 cargo, 26 container, 2
passenger-cargo, 20 roll-on/roll-off, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 barge carrier, 17
refrigerated cargo, 19 chemical tanker, 15 combination ore/oil, 3
specialized tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 131 oil tanker, 223 bulk, 26
combination bulk, 3 multifunction large load carrier, 1 railcar carrier;
note - a flag of convenience registry; China owns 2 ships, Russia owns 52
ships, Cuba owns 10, Vietnam owns 6, Croatia owns 37, Romania owns 3
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
automatic system satisfies normal requirements; 153,000 telephones;
excellent service by broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, and 2 TV; submarine
cable and microwave radio relay between islands; international service by 1
submarine cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station