Updated: No government permits issued for Naxxar fair, council insists

Naxxar local council insisted this afternoon that the government had not issued any permits for a trade fair to be held at the fair grounds in Naxxar.

It was reacting to comments by officials of Trade Fairs Exhibitors Ltd who said that the International Fair of Malta would reopen its doors at the trade fair grounds in Naxxar on July 16 following a decision taken by the court earlier this month.

Naxxar council reiterated its view that the holding of the fair would violate the local plan. It said the government had appealed the court decision, and even if the appeal was not upheld, that did not mean that the government was obliged to issue the necessary permits.

The court had ordered the Director of Trade to consider an application by TFEA Limited to hold a fair at the Naxxar grounds. It said that a 1975 licence, first granted to the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation for an office for the management of the Malta International Trade Fair covered the grounds as a place licensed by the Department of Trade for the holding of fairs. The director was given up to Monday to consider the licence application.

TFEA chairman Paul Abela at a press conference today said there was strong interest for the event in the business community, and a meeting for exhibitors would be held tomorrow.

The place, last used to host trade fairs three years ago, is being spruced up in a two-week programme of works.

Mr Abela said that although the Trade Department had appealed the court's decision, the company had been allowed by the court to immediately enforce the decision.

The international fair will be competing directly with the Malta Trade Fair,which opened last night at the MFCC in Ta' Qali.