Office of the Prime Minister

Permanent Secretary OPM (Operations)

Auberge de Castille, Valletta VLT 2000, Malta

Tel: (+356) 22 001 499 Fax: (+356) 22 001 497

E-mail: permsec.opm.policy@gov.mt

The Permanent Secretary OPM (Operations) is responsible for ensuring that the Government functions within the Office of the Prime Minister falling under his responsibility are carried out efficiently and effectively. He advises the Prime Minister and the Principal Permanent Secretary on matters related to the functions of these offices within OPM. His role has both an international and national dimension.

The areas covered by the Permanent Secretary OPM (Operations) is inter alia:

Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Division
Operations and Programme Implementation Directorate
Corporate Services Directorate
Information Management Unit
Relations with the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM)
State Aid.
House of Representatives
Broadcasting Authority
Electoral Office.

photo of Permanent Secretary OPM (Policy) Mr Paul Zahra
Permanent Secretary OPM (Operations)

Paul Zahra joined the Malta Public Service in 1984 and served at the Economic Division within the Office of the Prime Minister. During 1989-1992, he was personal assistant to the Economic Secretary and Chief Economics Officer at the Ministry of Finance. In 1993 he was appointed Head of the Economic Policy Division and subsequently Director (Economic Strategy) and Director General (Economic Policy). Since 2001 Mr. Zahra discharged duties as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Economic Services and the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Zahra is also the Chairman of the State Aid Monitoring Board. Mr Zahra was appointed Permanent Secretary (Policy), OPM in March 2006 and re-designated Permanent Secretary (Operations), OPM in June 2008.

Permanent Secretary OPM (Information, Tourism & Sustainable Development)

Auberge d'Italie, Valletta VLT 2000, Malta

Tel: (+356) 22 915 042 Fax: (+356) 22 915 069
E-mail: permsec.opm.itsd@gov.mt

The Permanent Secretary OPM (Information, Tourism & Sustainable Development) is responsible for ensuring that the departments within the Office of the Prime Minister falling under his responsibility discharge their functions efficiently and effectively and advises the Prime Minister and the Principal Permanent Secretary on matters related to the functions of these offices within OPM.

The Permanent Secretary OPM (Information, Tourism & Sustainable Development) is directly supported by the following directorates and units within the Office of the Prime Minister:

Department of Information
Government Printing Press
Department for Local Government
Department of Tourism
Environment
Malta Tourism Authority
Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA)
Malta-EU Steering Action Committee (MEUSAC)

Mr Peter Portelli
Permanent Secretary OPM (Information, Tourism & Sustainable Development)

Mr Portelli joined the Ministry of Tourism in 1987. Between 1990 and 1993 he served as Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Institute of Tourism Studies. In October 1993 he joined the Private Secretariat of the Prime Minister. Between 1997 and 1998 he was posted to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, where he also served as Secretary to the Permanent Secretaries Forum. He rejoined the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat in 1998 as Communications Coordinator and the following year was appointed Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. In April 2004 he was appointed Private Secretary to The President. He was appointed Permanent Secretary (Tourism and Culture) in December 2004. Following the change of Administration in 2008, Mr Portelli was appointed Permanent Secretary, OPM (Information, Tourism and Sustainable Development).