Tonio Fenech evaluates Public Private Partnerships in London
Finance Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech should be relieved to be temporarily removed from the fray over public holidays while on a short visit to London this week.
On the invitation of the British government, Fenech, who returns to Malta today, has been in London to evaluate UK-based Public Private Partnership structures and projects.
Fenech is heading a delegation to London, to establish the necessary knowledge transfer channels and contacts in setting up a Public Private Partnership Unit and process within the Finance Ministry.   The visit forms part of the 2004 budget measure that seeks too to establish a PPP unit with the appropriate expertise and process models for the purpose, and to seek opportunities to engage in such projects where these can result in clear efficiencies.
Malta has had considerable success with its first Public Private Partnership with the Environmental Landscape Consortium, which has been responsible for the much-needed embellishment of several roundabouts, roadsides, centre strips and other public areas.
The visit was organised in the collaboration with the Foreign Commonwealth Office, which hosted the delegation during the visit.   During his stay Fenech chaired a round table discussion with various UK industry players, consultants and financiers, as well as visiting a number of PPP projects in areas of interest to Malta.
Fenech was also to meet with Paul Boateng MP, member of Cabinet and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to discuss both PPP issues and maters of mutual interest currently being discussed at the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the 25 member states of the European Union.
Fenech was also expected to hold meetings with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Savoury, in preparation for the Lord Mayor's visit to Malta next February, when the PPP structures for Malta as well as the first PPP projects will be announced.