The government will be entering into a partnership with the private sector to embellish and maintain roads, in some 10 public-private partnerships announced last night.

Projects Malta, a company set up by the government this year, is working on a road public-private partnership that includes improvements in the cleanliness and look of roads.

This is a company that identifies public-private initiatives and starts projects across various sectors, including health, commerce, tourism and sports.

These include projects to enlarge sandy beaches and improve accessibility to rocky shores. The first identified bays are the area known as Taħt iż-Żiemel in Valletta, the bay behind the Pembroke reverse osmosis plant, and Fra Ben in Qawra.

When it comes to the health sector, the government is drafting a master plan for St Luke’s Hospital. It will be issuing a call of expressions of interest so that the site, part of which was left abandoned for years, will be developed.

Meanwhile, a pilot project with the private sector is being launched to modernise the Cospicua health centre, where service will remain free.

A call for expressions of interest will also be issued for private investors to join in the running of the Marsa Racecourse

The government is also planning to build parking facilities within the same locality.

Two proposals are being evaluated to develop a car park for 370 cars in the Santa Margherita area in Cospicua, which will include sport and commercial facilities.

Projects Malta is also studying the feasibility of alternative forms of transport to reduce traffic congestion. These include sea transport in Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour to increase the number of destinations that can be reached by sea ferry.

Another private-public partnership covers the building of a breakwater between Valletta and Sliema that would facilitate the development of a yacht marina in the area.

A call for expressions of interest will also be issued for private investors to join in the running of the Marsa Racecourse to ensure it is managed more professionally.

When it comes to the tourism sector, the government is hoping to turn the Bighi area into a major Mediterranean tourist centre. Villa Bighi in Kalkara is at the moment being transformed into a National Centre for Interactive Science called Esplora, which is estimated to cost €26 million and is partly funded by the EU.

There had been two other unsuccessful attempts in the past to build a similar centre, in the late 1980s and mid-1990s.

Together with the private sector, the government is studying the possibility of opening a hotel in the area.

Another private-public partnership venture tackles the recommendation in the final report on the Holistic Justice Reform to freeze all assets belonging to people who are accused or convicted of major crimes.

The government is evaluating several systems abroad and is considering converting the present system into a private-public partnership so that this unit will have the necessary strength and autonomy.