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No. 0381
APPLICATION BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR €7.2 MILLION (LM3.1 MILLION) TOWARDS IMPROVING OUR COMPETITIVENESS
“After investing €8 million (Lm3.4 million) in the upgrading of the industrial areas of Mriehel, Mosta, Zebbug and Handaq, we are now taking another step to ensure that a further two industrial zones are upgraded. In recent years a process was already started to ensure the cleansing and maintenance of the industrial zones of Luqa and Attard, and continuous consultation with the tenants was carried out to identify their needs. The Government has now made a formal application for European Union funds, so that with an investment of €7.2 million (Lm3.1 million) in co-financing, the zones will be upgraded so as to improve the competitiveness of the business that operate from the zones.” Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed, Edwin Vassallo, said this during a visit to the Luqa industrial zone together with the Hon. Tonio Fenech, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. During the visit, an explanation was given of the work and investment already made and the planned project.

The Hon. Vassallo said that “thanks to the application we have made, apart from an infrustructural investment, we will also be setting up a support services centre in both Attard and Luqa to be able to assist the tenants. This project, which is being co-financed by the European Union, will be spread over a period of four years.

The project will cost €7.2 million (Lm3.1 million) and will focus on upgrading the service and road infrastructure within the Attard and Luqa industrial zones. The proposed plan also includes the construction of a business support centre within each zone to cater for initiatives aimed at supporting park entrepreneurs in their business ventures.

The attraction of investment in industrial zones is largely dependent on the availability of suitable physical enterprise infrastructure. Safe accessibility to the sites is vital to ensure the improved and continued attractiveness of such business areas to investors, employees and clients.

The upgrading existing Government owned SME Parks at Attard and Luqa will consist of the re-construction and construction of internal roads, footpaths, storm water runoff network, reservoir, installation of street lighting, improvement of access junctions, parking facilities, waste collection facilities, soft landscaping and construction of a business support centre in each locality.

This project is intended to achieve:

accessible industrial zones
efficiently organized and environmentally friendly industrial areas
a business environment conducive to encouraging new operations or the expanding / rationalization of existing operations
clustering of manufacturing micro-enterprises
enhanced development and innovation opportunities for Maltese micro-enterprises

At the end of the project the SME Parks at Attard and Luqa will be benefiting from:
2 Business Support Centres at Luqa Industrial Estate and at Attard; with Installation of photo-voltaic cells on the roof;
Fully equipped computer room with internet access in the business support centers;
4Km of internal roads;
Improved access and traffic management;
Better parking facilities;
Waste Collection and separation facilities;
Harvesting of Storm Water runoff in reservoirs to be used as 2nd class water;
Common service ducts under the road constructed to facilitate the provision of infrastructure;
Improved services by utilities stakeholders for industrial use;
Improved safety for drivers and road users;
Enhanced environment through soft landscaping (example planting of trees);
Wireless internet access throughout the Parks.

Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo also mentioned the Ta’ Qali Crafts Village and said that “today was the closing date for the tender for the construction of the huts in the crafts village. Now the adjudication process will start, to be followed, in the coming months, with the awarding of the contract in order to start the physical construction of the site. This tender has a cost of around €18.4 million (Lm 7.9 million). Meanwhile, the 11th March is the deadline for the second tender, which will cover the infrastructure of roads and open areas around the buildings. This part of the project will cost around €16.2 million (Lm7 million).

Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo said that the Government’s investment in the small business sector is bearing its fruit, as the number of self-employed persons has been constantly increasing (vide attached table).

At the end of the visit, the Hon. Edwin Vassallo emphasised that the Government is working to ensure that small businesses have the best possible environment to work from, and in this way is also ensuring that consumers who visit these zones are given the best service, thanks to well-organised industrial zones of the highest quality.

Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech said that “over a period of seven years, the Government will be allocating €120 million (Lm52.5 million) in funds aimed at SMEs and manufacturing. This is being done in order to ensure that SMEs and other factories are able to work in the best way. This working plan, which is spread over a period of seven years, is not aimed only at large industrial zones, but also at smaller industrial areas. Thanks to the initiatives being taken by the Government, small enterprises will be able to operate better.”

“We will also be holding a call for applications for SMEs to apply for grants. The Government will launch a programme whereby 450 small enterprise will be helped to upgrade their premises, improve their operations, as well as to expand abroad.”

“The initiatives taken by the Government are fundamental for the development of the small business sector in Malta, and a Nationalist Government has recognised the importance of this. A Nationalist Government will not work by giving subsidies, which is what the Labour Party is promising, as is the case of tax credits, which as also been rejected by the European Union, a Nationalist Government is constantly helping small enterprises by encouraging investment, and thus leading to more economic growth. We will be reducing the tax rate from 35% to 25%, and this will lead to more work opportunities and will help in the expansion of businesses.”
DOI - 28.02.2008

Table 1: Source: ETC Statistics

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