Ta’ Qali crafts village set for €14 million investment

The government’s management arm for industrial estates will spend €14 million on long-awaited regeneration for the crafts village in Ta’ Qali.

Business operators at the press conference announced by the parliamentary secretary for EU funds Ian Borg, cheered at the news, saying the area was in dire need of a revamp in infrastructure, including new roads and even public toilets for visiting tourists.

Borg said the regeneration would turn the area into a centre of excellence for the country’s artisanal skills. The area currently hosts some 50 operators who specialize in traditional crafts such as pottery and glass-blowing amongst others.

Borg said he had to yet to meet contractors on the project to establish a timeframe for completion.

“MIP will be responsible for the infrastructural framework of the area as well as the identity of the village, but operators will also be expected to invest in bringing their establishments  in line with the decor of the village,” Borg said, adding that operators  were expected to invest around €4 million to complement the investment.

The project is one of the three EU-funded projects approved under a 2014-2020 allocation, with the others being a €16 million expansion of Gozo’s Xewkija industrial estate to add 5,350 square metres of land for new financial services, research and IT businesses; and a €900,000 ‘internationalisation knowledge platform’ from Trade Malta to assist SMEs in strengthening their presence in international markets

“Some 130 companies are expected to benefit from the platform,” Borg said.