Malta Freeport is in discussions with the Government over a possible expansion, Economy Minister Chris Cardona said yesterday.

“The Freeport management feels the need to keep on expanding and we’ve had talks about the possibility of increasing its parameters,” said Dr Cardona.

A “plot of land” close to the Freeport site in Birżebbuġa has also been identified as a possible space for further expansion.

Most of this land belongs to the Government, he said.

Addressing the press following a familiarisation tour of the Malta Freeport, Dr Cardona said the Government was committed to “keep on discussing ideas” with the management to expand its operations.

Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Growth Edward Zammit Lewis, who accompanied the minister, said the new Government wanted to make Malta a maritime hub. In a private meeting, Freeport marketing manager Uwe Malezki provided detailed explanations of the company’s current activity and its projections.

Two weeks ago, Mr Malezki asked the ministry to intervene on a technical matter regarding the dredging works taking place, Dr Cardona said.

“We worked as interlocutors between the Freeport and the dredging company and the matter was solved,” the minister said.