Inter-ministerial committee to coordinate Tal-Handaq, Imriehel and Zebbug industrial zones

Government yesterday announced the creation of a new action committee which will operate under the auspices of the Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Services, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, and the Small Business Unit.

The action committee will deal with industrial zones which do not fall under the responsibility of the Malta Development Corporation.

The aim of the committee is to be in a better position to organise and assist those who make use of these industrial zones, and to facilitate the issuing of permits and licences.

The Parliamentary Secretariat for Economic Services said there would be a continuous and direct consultation with entrepreneurs to help them overcome the new challenges of foreign competition.

The SBU is now in the final stages of finalising a report on the estimated infrastructural costs for three industrial zones. These zones are Tal-Handaq, Imriehel and Zebbug.

The budget that has been allocated for these infrastructural works amounts to Lm1,050,000.

Following the finalisation of these projects, further restructuring will be carried out in the other industrial zones, which includes streets, lighting and drainage services.

The action committee will also be initialising a study clarifying which regulations small businesses are exempt from. Other projects include an educational campaign for SMEs on their social and legal obligations. The cleaning and upgrading scheme will also be continued in those industrial zones which do not fall under the responsibilities of the MDC.

Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Services Edwin Vassallo said the SBU’s and the MEPA’s joint effort would serve to offer the best assistance within the industrial zones, through direct consultation and coordination with business entities. The new action committee, he said, would bring about a series of new initiatives listed within the Secretariat’s agenda.