Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife has been given a post equivalent to an ambassador and will be working on a permanent basis from Shanghai for the next three years, Malta Enterprise has confirmed.
Sai Mizzi Liang was last month given a direct appointment by the Government to act as Malta’s “envoy” for Asia, with a financial package normally given to ambassadors, Malta Enterprise chairman Mario Vella said.
Conditions will be equivalent to those of an ambassador
“(Ms Mizzi Liang’s) conditions will be equivalent to those of an ambassador,” in line with those applicable in Malta’s Foreign Service, Dr Vella told The Sunday Times of Malta, without giving a breakdown of the salary and allowances.
Questions sent to the Foreign Ministry asking about Ms Mizzi Laing’s package remained unanswered by the time of going to print.
However, sources told this newspaper that the salary and global emoluments given to a Maltese ambassador in China are close to €100,000 a year.
Apart from this package, an ambassador is also entitled to a range of other benefits, including free accommodation, free private schooling for any siblings, free medical care and the provision of housekeeping and transport services paid by the State.
Confirming that Ms Mizzi Liang’s appointment did not follow any call for applications, as is the normal procedure in the recruitment of regional envoys by Malta Enterprise, Dr Vella said Dr Mizzi’s wife was given her post following a direct political appointment by the Government.
He said Malta Enterprise was only responsible for her engagement contract which “was negotiated by the office of the chairman”.
Asked to list the number of envoys currently employed with Malta Enterprise, apart from Ms Mizzi Liang, Dr Vella said there were two envoys who were not engaged through a public call.
“An envoy for Digital Games is currently engaged by Malta Enterprise with no remuneration and another envoy was contracted in 2010 and his contract was terminated on grounds of non-performance,” he said.
Dr Vella said both envoys were appointed by the Office of the Prime Minister.
This newspaper is informed that the two envoys Malta Enterprise is referring to are known to be ‘international authorities’ in their field and were given their appointment following a Cabinet decision to help Malta venture into new industrial and highly specialised fields.
Neither received any remuneration for their role.
Malta Enterprise has justified the direct engagement of the minister’s Chinese wife, naturalised as a Maltese citizen in 2006, as she specialises in business development and trade promotion.
Ms Mizzi Liang holds a master’s degree in investment and finance from the University of Nottingham.
Earlier in the week, both Dr Mizzi and Economy Minister Chris Cardona – politically responsible for Malta Enterprise – denied any involvement in the her direct recruitment and said that this was a Malta Enterprise initiative.
On the other hand, the Opposition accused the Government of creating a job to accommodate the minister’s wife, accusing the Prime Minister of sleaze and nepotism.
Malta Enterprise’s two special envoys so far:
Chris Deering – special envoy for digital games
In 2010, following a Cabinet decision, Malta Enterprise appointed Chris Deering to help Malta develop into a games design base without remuneration. Mr Deering is considered to be “the father of Playstation” and was Sony Europe’s CEO.
Sir Christopher Evans
Appointed as a special envoy to develop a Life Sciences Park. Considered one of the UK’s foremost biotechnology entrepreneurs, Sir Christopher established 20 science firms and was twice elected Cambridge Businessman of the Year. In The Sunday Times Rich List 2006, he was listed in 364th with an estimated fortune of £158 million (€189m).