Nine expressions of interest have been submitted for the detailed design, development, operation and marketing of Corporate Village Malta in Mrieħel.

The urban regeneration project is intended to act as a catalyst for the formation of the island’s central business district, Malta Enterprise said yesterday.

This concrete interest from the private sector follows the positive response earned by the €150 to €200 million project wherever it was presented, with its iconic design and top-notch facilities.

Interest was forthcoming from a mix of companies and consortia not only from Malta but also from a number of countries such as Italy, the UK, the US, Canada and South Africa.

Originally set for early September, the deadline for the submissions of interest was shifted to last Friday in response to requests.

The expressions of interest will be evaluated according to a set of pre-established criteria, which include the professional and technical qualifications of the interested parties, financial resources, credit standing, as well as their organisational, managerial and marketing capability.

Corporate Village Malta seeks to become a landmark building in the central business district while addressing the lacuna of office space in the area.

It will also provide leisure, retail, sports and conferencing facilities in almost 130,000 square metres of space, and will serve as the government’s single point of contact for business with the location of the main regulatory and business support agencies and departments.

The government is guaranteeing 30 per cent occupancy of the office space, a factor which has gone down well with prospective investors.