Lobby group launches campaign to better promote Valletta

The Valletta Alive Foundation was officially launched yesterday during a ceremony at the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, in Valletta.

The foundation, a lobby group consisting of representatives of seven organisations, aims to promote public awareness on the historical, cultural, social, economic and commercial importance of Valletta, as Malta's capital city and a World Heritage Site. It also aims to encourage increased public and private investment to improve the city's building fabric and public spaces.

The president of this new foundation, Alfred Zahra, appealed to anyone with an interest in the city to join the foundation and actively contribute to the achievements of its objectives. Four classes of membership are available: individual, NGO, small business and corporate.

The Minister for Urban Development and Roads, Jesmond Mugliett, noted with satisfaction the wide involvement of stakeholders with an interest in Valletta. He highlighted the work the government has carried out over the years to regenerate Valletta and acknowledged that more needs to be done. Today, he said, the government is increasingly seeking new approaches as how to promote development through public-private partnerships. In Valletta, the Viset waterfront project is one such example.

Mr Mugliett and the mayor of Valletta, Paul Borg Olivier, are honorary patrons of the new foundation.

Dr Borg Olivier spoke about the need to provide incentives for the rehabilitation of buildings. He said the foundation provides new opportunities as to how the private and the public sector could come together to improve the capital city.

During the ceremony, the charter of the new foundation was signed by a representative of each of the seven founding members, namely, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise (GRTU), the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Merchants Street Business Community, the Republic Street Business Community, the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee and the Valletta local council.

Bank of Valletta is the corporate sponsor of the foundation.

Austin Gatt, Minister for Information Technology, Industry and Government Investments, also attended the event.