Four operators have signalled their interest for a casino licence in Gozo and another six for a casino in Malta, according to Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis.
We will re-evaluate Mrieħel project
He described the response to the Government’s call for an expression of interest in two casino licences as encouraging.
The 10 operators have collected the necessary documentation but it still has to be seen how many of them will eventually commit to the process when the call closes on Monday.
Dr Zammit Lewis said the Lotteries and Gaming Authority had received 11 letters from operators seeking details and clarifications on the Gozo licence and 17 requests on the Malta licence.
The government wants to give two 10-year concessions for a casino in Malta and another in Gozo. The call was issued last month amid scepticism whether there will be interest in the Gozo licence.
Eight years ago, a hotel in Gozo had permission to open a casino but it could not find an interested operator.
The casino industry has been operating in Malta since 1964 and its tax contribution grew to €13.5 million last year from €10 million in 2008.
Dr Zammit Lewis was speaking at a press conference with Economy Minister Chris Cardona and Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia to mark the administration’s first 100 days.
On the expression of interest for the redevelopment of the Marsa shipbuilding site into a maritime hub, Dr Cardona said the Government did not have a specific deadline by when it wanted a deal concluded.
But after the call for expression of interest closes on August 5, the Government will not stall.
“We intend keeping thesame momentum and will produce a detailed request for proposals soon afterwards,” Dr Cardona added.
Asked about the Malta Enterprise project for an office park at the Mrieħel industrial estate proposed by the previous administration, Dr Cardona said the Government did not agree with the brief.
“We will re-evaluate the project and it will be re-dimensioned according to the needs of industry. But first we have to have an industrial development plan,” he said.
The business park had been criticised because the project would have used prime industrial land for the development of office blocks.
Dr Cardona said the responses to the calls for expression of interest for various projects issued in the first 100 days signalled that investors had trust in the country.
Dr Farrugia said he was holding talks with the newly appointed Commissioner against Bureaucracy, Labour MP Michael Falzon, and the principle permanent secretary on how to cut red tape.
He said a consultation process will be held over the summer months with business leaders, the public and civil servants to determine, which bureaucratic processes had to be simplified.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com