Solid cooperation particularly in the fields of economy, energy, culture and education are expected to be a priority for the new Ambassador of Italy to Malta.

During a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Valletta, Mario Sammartino appointed to this post by the Italian Government presented his credentials to the President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

In recent years, Malta has welcomed a large number of Italians who chose to work in Malta due to the economic crisis in Italy.

Mario Sammartino stated that he would strengthen the cultural and academic ties with Malta.

Born in Naples on 29th January 1956, Mario Sammartino holds a University Degree in Law obtained from the University of Milan on 29th April 1983.

Following the State Examination, he was named Volontario in the Italian Diplomatic Corps on the 1st February 1985. His first assignment was at the Development Aid Department, Office VI, and he was named Segretario di Legazione on 1st January 1986.

On 24th June 1987, he started serving at the Italian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On 2nd January 1991, he was named Consul in Dortmund, Germany, and on 17th January 1994, he was named Consul in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

On 2nd July 2000, Mario Sammartino was named Consigliere di Ambasciata, and from 10th November 2000, he served as First Counsellor at the Italian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco.

From 12th May 2004, he served as Charge d’Affaires with Letters of Accreditation at the Italian Embassy in Libreville, Gabon, and was confirmed as Ambassador from 25th February 2005.

From 28th August 2007, he served at the Directorate General for Sub-Saharan Africa, Head of Office I.

On 2nd January 2008, he was named Ministro Plenipotenziario, and from 3rd March 2008, he served as Head of Office II of the Directorate General for Sub-Saharan Africa.

From 15th September 2008, Ambassador Sammartino started serving in the Directorate General for Development Aid as Deputy Director General and Central Director for the programming and realization of development aid interventions.

From 1st August 2012, Mario Sammartino served as the Ambassador of Italy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ambassador Sammartino is married to Ms Federica Modena, and has one daughter.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews