The Land Department is currently examining ideal locations for a potential car parking venture on the outskirts of Valletta, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business Jason Azzopardi told The Times Business yesterday.
Dr Azzopardi's secretariat and the Land Department were recently approached by private operators interested in exploring the possibility of managing new parking spaces on the capital's periphery. Any proposal made after the Land Department's study would be subject to approval by authorities.
"There is interest," Dr Azzopardi stressed. "Whether the idea takes the form of a public-private partnership or a totally private venture, we do not know at this stage. What is important is that there is an exercise under way to determine whether the idea is feasible and whether the space is actually available."
Whether or not the venture materialises, Dr Azzopardi is confident many of the concerns of Valletta's business owners will be addressed by the upcoming extension of the Park and Ride scheme.
Dr Azzopardi, who has established a close working relationship with the GRTU, the Malta Chamber of Enterprise, Commerce and Industry and Valletta business owners since adding small business to his portfolio a few weeks ago, has met stakeholders concerned about the impact on parking facilities for shoppers visiting the capital.
The extension of the Park and Ride scheme outside the city will encompass hundreds of additional spaces in the next few weeks, Dr Azzopardi explained.
And following talks between the secretariat and the Infrastructure Ministry, the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation has been directed to ensure that while the Piano project is under way in Valletta, there is adequate space available for pedestrian access at the City Gate site.
Meanwhile, small businesses all over Malta have shown great interest in the tax credit scheme launched last January and which runs until December next year, Dr Azzopardi added.
The Parliamentary Secretary received the "excellent" feedback at five regional dialogue meetings held with small businesses, including one in Gozo, over the past fortnight.
More than 12,000 letters of invitation were dispatched to micro-enterprises. An average 100 people attended each meeting, Dr Azzopardi explained, who were free to make suggestions and air their views. Malta Enterprise and Commerce Division officials were also on hand to answer enquiries.
"As far as possible, queries were answered there and then, and others are being followed up," Dr Azzopardi pointed out. "Specific issues with Malta Enterprise, the Tax Department, and licensing authorities have been ironed out. We are listening to businesses very carefully. I have met some people more than once and the secretariat has also facilitated meetings with other government departments to facilitate matters. There are procedures and processes with which I cannot interfere but I can certainly help to set up meetings to facilitate small business' working environment."
Dr Azzopardi also led a meeting for Valletta business owners recently organised by the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises where he and Malta Enterprise officials discussed ideas surrounding the tax credits scheme. A similar meeting was held with Gozitan businesses yesterday afternoon. Dr Azzopardi said many people were still not aware that they were eligible for tax credits of up to 60 per cent in some cases under these schemes.
"It is fair to say that for the third consecutive year, the government has cut tax again," Dr Azzopardi said. "Which government in the European Union can claim that in the worst recession for decades, it not only left social benefits unchanged or raised taxes and VAT, but reduced tax rates for SMEs?"
Over the past few weeks, Dr Azzopardi has met business communities across the islands to discuss issues particular to their commercial centres and high streets - from traffic management to the establishment of associations - in the presence of local councillors.