Cuschieri Brothers of Mriehel wants to increase its production for export from 10 to around 40 per cent tapping the Libyan and Sicilian markets.

To do so, the company needs new and bigger premises, co-owner Gilbert Cuschieri told Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this afternoon.

Dr Gonzi, who was touring the factory, which produces aluminium works, said it is the government's duty to help properties wanting to expand.

Asked about the Mriehel Corporate Village, the Prime Minister just moved away with his director of communications saying that Dr Gonzi had a private meeting with the company bosses.

This is the second time this week that a manufacturing company in the Mriehel industrial estate said it wanted to expand.

Just a couple of blocks away from Cuschieri Brothers, a large factory lies abandoned on the site where government plans to create a corporate village with offices and retail space.

This project was this week criticised by Labour leader Joseph Muscat who said it made no sense to dedicate prime industrial land for retail and office purposes.