A young Italian lawyer was recruited on a position-of-trust basis by the Malta Council for Science and Technology to act as China expert, Minister Evarist Bartolo confirmed in Parliament.
Describing him as a “perfect fit”, Mr Bartolo said, the lawyer, Humbert Mozzi had qualifications and experience with Chinese entrepreneurs and was selected on the strength of his long experience of overseas work, even in China.
A spokesman for the government agency failed to say why MCST required an expert on China but not on other countries too.
While confirming that Dr Mozzi had been directly engaged as ‘China expert liaison consultant’, the spokesman said the Italian lawyer was supporting MCST in the development of a research and innovation strategy with China.
“He has extensive professional relationships with key R&D Chinese entities and is assisting MCST in the identification of niche areas of mutual interest to Malta and China,” the spokesman said.
When asked why the person was recruited on a position-of-trust basis and not through a normal call for applications, the spokesman said “Dr Mozzi was identified as the most adequate candidate available at short notice and able to contribute under the set conditions”.
Sources close to MCST said that Dr Mozzi works on a part-time basis. He is a director of Capreal Ltd, which specialises in real estate, finance and management consultancy.
This recruitment is the latest of about 200 individuals who were employed by the government on the basis of position of trust since the March 2013 election, excluding about 400 members in the private secretariats of Cabinet ministers.
According to information given in Parliament in reply to a series of questions tabled by Nationalist MP Mario de Marco on the number of such people employed by each ministry, it results that Sustainable Development Minister Leo Brincat has so far employed the highest number – 31; and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna the least – two.
All ministries have supplied such information except for the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, with both Joseph Muscat and Louis Grech saying data was still being collected and will be tabled soon.