On Monday, French Ambassador Béatrice le Fraper du Hellen visited the industrial site of Pamargan in Xewkija, Gozo, where she was greeted by Plant Manager and Engineer Christabel Cutajar. The Ambassador also had the opportunity to meet with the staff.
The Ambassador stressed that Pamargan, a TOTAL/Hutchinson subsidiary, was a reference for precision sealing systems in the automotive industry. She stated that, as an Ambassador of France in Malta, she welcomed French company TOTAL's continued commitment to the Plant, "thus remaining, with 150 local employees, the single largest employer in Gozo."
During her visit to Gozo, Ambassador le Fraper du Hellen inaugurated the French Room in the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary where 80 students are learning French.
She was greeted by headmaster Can. Emmanuel Saliba, teachers and students and, together with Cultural counsellor Laurent Croset and Director of the Franco-Maltese Centre Dorren Farrugia, she donated French books for the library.
Students sang the French national anthem and presented a film of their visit to Paris on Bastille day 2015.
"I am overwhelmed by your warm hospitality and commitment to teaching foreign language, especially French, in a College where science is the main subject: France and Malta have a strong programme of cooperation in the field of medical and engineering research and French speaking science students can benefit from scholarships in France," stated Mrs Le Fraper du Hellen.
Photographs_ Alain Salvary