The Malta Enterprise board did not discuss the appointment of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife, Times of Malta has learnt.
Speaking to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, a number of directors said chairman Mario Vella never brought the matter up for discussion, even though the board would normally vet such an appointment.
“I learned about the posting of an envoy to Asia from your newspaper,” one board member said.
“I’ve attended all board meetings so far but the issue was never brought to our attention,” he said.
The Government’s enterprise promotion arm last month engaged Sai Mizzi Liang, a Maltese national of Chinese origin, as an “envoy” to promote Asian investment in Malta and Maltese exports to the region.
The Government said there was no need for a call since “envoys are not appointed through public calls”.
Another member who has been on the board for several years said Malta Enterprise never had the post of ‘envoy’ and that this position had been created for the first time.
“We currently have a number of people representing us abroad, acting mainly as investment promoters. However, they were always recruited following a public call for applications and their title was never ‘envoy’.”
Ms Mizzi Liang’s appointment as our envoy to Asia is a first
Malta Enterprise sources said that a few years ago it had employed a number of “regional leaders” in its trade, investment and enterprise support division following a call that went out to countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada and China.
However, their recruitment followed a rigorous and transparent selection process and was approved by the board of directors. They were all considered to be employees of Malta Enterprise and reported solely to it.
“Ms Mizzi Liang’s appointment as our envoy to Asia is a first and we don’t really know what the term ‘envoy’ means,” said the board member.
“Is she a political appointee with diplomatic status and answerable to the Foreign Office or does she report to Malta Enterprise?”
Efforts made over the last few days to contact Prof. Vella have proved unsuccessful.
The State company has so far failed to respond to all questions sent by e-mail and SMS to the chairman.
Earlier this week, Economy Minister Chris Cardona, who is responsible for Malta Enterprise, said he had no idea how Ms Mizzi Liang was employed but expressed total faith in whoever made the appointment.
Dr Mizzi has denied exerting any influence on his fellow minister or on Malta Enterprise to engage his wife.
He revealed that Malta Enterprise had approached his wife to become an envoy and said she could not turn down the opportunity.
The Nationalist Opposition has accused the Government of “sleaze” and of reaching “the lowest level of nepotism” after just six months in office.
The PN demanded full transparency by the Government following the appointment.