A permanent fairs and convention centre costing €10 million will be built in Ta’ Qali, placing Malta in a better position to attract large-scale international conferences, Land Minister Jason Azzopardi has said.

The centre will cover an area of about 38,000 square metres on land that presently serves as the Motor Sports Association’s track.

Where the MFCC tent now stands – covering 28,000 square metres – will eventually be converted into an open space where activities could be held.

The Malta Fairs and Convention Centre has been granted a large area of land measuring approximately 68,000 metres on temporary emphyteusis for 65 years.

MFCC will pay an annual rental fee of €186,000 in the first year, with the sum increasing gradually each year, reaching more than €456,000 by the 65th year.

Dr Azzopardi said the deal could go through following the approval of a parliamentary resolution and after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority revised its structure plan for the Ta’ Qali area earlier this year.

He said the new structure would be a state-of-the-art facility, which would place Malta at the forefront in terms of facilities for large-scale events, fairs and conventions.

Dr Azzopardi said the MFCC already employed 60 people and the number was set to increase with the new centre.

MFCC managing director Gerald Borg said the closest convention centre similar to the one planned for Ta’ Qali was in Milan.

The company was committed to invest €10 million in this centre and create jobs.

Asked about timelines, Mr Borg said the company was contractually bound to submit its plans to the planning authority by the end of 2013 and was committed to complete the project within five years from when the permit was issued.

The Motor Sports Association track will move to an area double the size in another part of Ta’ Qali with the relocation cost of about €250,000 to be borne by MFCC.