Businesses see potential in Valletta Waterfront

Valletta Waterfront has received over 200 expressions of interest from different companies wishing to operate from its facilities at Pinto Wharf.

Viset plc said it was determined to conclude tenancy agreements with the successful applicants by November 2004.

The €25 million Valletta Waterfront project, run by Viset, is intended to provide top quality leisure and entertainment facilities for cruise and ferry passengers and the Maltese public.

In June, a call was made for expressions of interest from operators in the leisure and entertainment business as well as from businesses looking for prestigious office space at the restored Pinto Wharf.

The response has come not only from well-established Maltese businesses but also from a significant number of internationally renowned franchises, Viset said.

"The great response we have had is a very clear indication that both members of the Maltese business community and international investors recognise the potential of Valletta Waterfront.

"We will shortly begin detailed briefings with prospective tenants. In the near future we will be asking them to submit their business plans. By June 2005, the Maltese public, together with visiting passengers, will be able to begin enjoying this magnificent venue," Dirk Spiteri Lucas, business manager at Valletta Waterfront, said.

Valletta Waterfront will provide a 24-hour destination in a historical setting with views of the Grand Harbour and a market of over 500,000 visitors, expected to reach over one million visitors in the coming years.

"The backdrop of Fort St Angelo and the historic setting of Pinto Wharf provide a magnificent setting for a wide range of different activities, from dining al fresco to shopping, family entertainment, arts and music festivals and other special events.

"As from June 2005, Valletta Waterfront will be one of the main commercial centres in Malta. As the response to our call for expressions of interest shows, many businesses are willing to invest in this exciting project," Mr Spiteri Lucas said.