Gonzi silent on Mrieħel office plans

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday avoided questions on government plans to build offices at the Mrieħel industrial estate.

Dr Gonzi, who was visiting an aluminium factory in Mrieħel, walked away when asked about Corporate Village, a project announced by the government some years ago with the aim of turning a disused factory and other industrial land in Mrieħel into a number of offices, retail outlets and showrooms.

The project, still on the drawing board, came under fire this week when Labour leader Joseph Muscat visited a factory at Mrieħel. He said it made no sense to use limited industrial land for office blocks when manufacturing companies wanted to expand.

During his visit to Cuschieri Brothers, an aluminium manufacturer, Dr Gonzi was told that the company wanted to expand its operations in order to be able to tap export markets.

It was the second such statement in a week from a factory operating at Mrieħel.

On Thursday a worker at Methode, a company that manufactures electronic devices for cars, said his employer had come up against a brick wall of bureaucracy over its expansion plans despite having an abandoned factory situated right next door.

In a brief statement after touring the plant, Dr Gonzi said the government was committed to helping companies expand.

He did not elaborate and left when asked about the plans for Corporate Village.

His director of communic-ations insisted that the Prime Minister did not have time to answer because he had a meeting with company bosses and had to leave immediately afterwards.

Cuschieri Brothers, founded 35 years ago, employs about 30 people and last year exported 10 per cent of its entire production.

The company wants to increase the export share to between 30 and 40 per cent.