€32 million investment in three projects from European Regional Development Fund

Parliamentary Secretary for the EU presidency in 2017 and European Funds Ian Borg announced three projects whose total investment amounts to more than €32 million under the European Regional Development Fund.

Through this investment about 180 enterprises will be receiving support and will create around 160 new jobs.

The three projects include the redevelopment of Ta' Qali Crafts Village, the extension of Xewkija industrial parks and the internationalisation knowledge platform.

Borg explained that the project at the Ta' Qali Crafts Village has been years in waiting for a much needed rehabilitation.

“The proposal of this project aims to restore the village and create a centre of excellence for Maltese operators who are in the manufacturing industry by creating products and traditional Maltese crafts. All this will allow operators to serve as showcase for their traditional work and increase the number of visitors to ensure sustainability of the Crafts Village,” Borg said.

According to Borg, the value of this project will be approximately €14 million and around 50 tenants from SMEs are expected to benefit from it. Whilst expanding and increasing their activity, this project is also expected to create about 17 new jobs within these existing businesses.

Regarding the extension of the Xewkija Industrial Parks, Borg identified the extension of the area which is also owned by the Malta Industrial Parks in Gozo as the objective.

“The plans aim at expanding up to 15 new workshops spread over a total of 5,355 square metre for industrial activity in a vacant site also known as Tal-Ħofra.”

Borg added that it was expected that the Malta Industrial Parks will be demolishing the existing building. Instead, they are expected to build a facility to serve different purposes and to accommodate various operations including financial services, ICT and research and training, amongst other sectors.

“The forecasting plans are that about 25 enterprises will benefit through investment, thereby creating about 150 new jobs within these same businesses. The total of this project amounts to approximately € 16 million,” Borg said.

Borg then moved on to the Internationalisation Knowledge Platform that Trade Malta which he said has been brought forward to assist SMEs and to be more prepared in investing, promoting and attaining a wider recognition on international level.

“This hub will include digital platform where small and medium enterprises can use and take interest in a series of training and consultancies with the objective of finding the required building capacity and expand their horizons into the international market. The total of this intervention is €920,414 and about 130 companies are expected to receive support.”

Borg concluded by stressing that this investment confirms the government’s commitment in creating the ideal environment for small and medium businesses.

“The government is maximising the use of EU funds, making it possible for Maltese and Gozitan people to benefit from such projects.”