'Impressive response' to SmartCity

SmartCity Malta said it has registered an impressive response and market interest from Maltese, regional and international companies looking to relocate their operations to their knowledge-based township in Ricasoli.

It said this will lead to the creation of quality job opportunities for ICT and media knowledge workers and professionals.

At a board meeting that followed the launch of SmartCity Malta last Saturday, the board emphasised that all the positive steps secured to date were a reflection of the successful public-private partnership that is SmartCity Malta.

The board discussed phase one of the project with a focus on aspects related to the development of the infrastructure, health and safety frameworks, and the measures to be adopted to ensure that SmartCity Malta is developed in a sustainable fashion, not the least by the implementation of environment-friendly practices.

Another key decision made by the board was the appointment of Claudio Grech as chief executive officer for SmartCity Malta.

John Gatt, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, will be replacing Mr Grech as the board member appointed by the government.

Fareed Abdulrahman, CEO of SmartCity, stressed SmartCity's commitment to the mutual long-term vision laid out by SmartCity and the government.

"SmartCity Malta will not only be developed in an environmentally sustainable manner, but it will also generate sustainable investments from local, regional and international business partners," he said.

SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi are the first two projects to be part of the global network of knowledge-based industry townships that SmartCity seeks to develop.

With an investment outlay equivalent to US$300 million, SmartCity Malta promises to transform Malta into a state-of-the-art ICT and media business community based on the successful models of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City.

SmartCity Malta is the largest foreign direct investment in the ICT and media sectors ever made in Malta. The project is expected to generate 5,600 jobs and create a total office space of 163,538 square metres.