The Grand Harbour, the backdrop to Malta's history, is set to exper-ience a regeneration as Government yesterday unveiled 20 proposed projects that would revamp the area while respecting its historic value.

Investments Minister Austin Gatt yesterday gave an overview of these projects, which include a new cruise liner terminal in Senglea and an extension of the Valletta terminal, the conversion of Sir Paul Boffa Hospital into a hotel, the closure of the Marsa power station and the afforestation of Kalkara Valley.

At a conference held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Dr Gatt said he believed the projects ought to be carried out by the private sector or through public-private partnerships as in that way the Maltese economy would benefit.

Dr Gatt said that the Grand Harbour had a unique identity that summed up Malta's history. It was also a strategic port, both from the tourism and investment aspects, and this led the government to devise a strategy for the area's regeneration.

In the course of a meeting held with the Cabinet Committee for National Projects, the Malta Investment Management Company Limited (Mimcol) was requested to probe into government-owned property that might offer opportunities for regeneration and development of the Grand Harbour.

But before setting out on this project, priorities were outlined to guide decisions made. These priorities included the conservation of historical heritage, the harbour's potential within the commercial and tourism fields, and the maximisation of space, the minister said.

This led to a five-tiered vision: to ensure more employment and business in the port, to improve the efficiency of importation and exportation of merchandise in the Grand Harbour, a commitment to the environment, to increase value of property in the port area, and to integrate development in the locality with the development of the port.

With these priorities and vision in mind, and on the basis of research and analysis Mimcol came up with a set of 20 opportunities and recommendations in the Grand Harbour Report.

Dr Gatt added that the government had been working on this since October 2006 and, answering a question put to him, he said that the government had been working on it before Labour Leader Alfred Sant first mentioned the MLP's plans for Grand Harbour in July this year.

Now, Dr Gatt said, the next step was to initiate the consultation process launched today. The government will accept reactions to its proposed vision until December and the projects will be followed up with deeper and separate studies to ensure they may be implemented successfully, he said.

The Investments Ministry may be contacted on tel: 2122-6808 or by e-mail at miti@gov.mt.

The proposals

• Cruise liner terminal in Senglea
• Extending the Valletta cruise liner terminal
• Joining the promenade from Ricasoli to Senglea
• New yacht marina in Kalkara
• Converting Sir Paul Boffa Hospital into a hotel
• New tourism and cultural sector in the quays surrounding the Menqa in Marsa
• Restoring Fort Ricasoli to provide a centre for the audio-visual industry
• Restoration of Villa Bighi
• Increasing the presence of super yachts at the Senglea Waterfront
• Shifting the tank-cleaning facility at Ricasoli ditch to a more suitable location
• Opening a commercial maritime park
• Setting up a Maritime Institute
• Setting up the Centre of Maritime Services
• Closing down the Marsa power station
• Afforestation of Rinella valley
• Embellishment of Rinella creek
• New maritime infrastructure in Kalkara
• Reorganisation of Xatt il-Mollijiet
• Extension of quay infrastructure at Kordin
• Converting a base for towing services at Xatt il-Knisja