DUBAI, 24 April 2007 -- Malta government and SmartCity, (a joint venture between Tecom Investments and Sama Dubai), have signed the final agreements to establish SmartCity Malta, at a ceremony held at the Westin Dragonara Resort, in St Julians, Malta yesterday.
The agreement was signed by Austin Gatt, minister for Investment, Industry and Information Technology of Malta and Ahmad bin Byat, executive chairman of Tecom Investments. Also present were Farhan Faraidooni, executive chairman of Sama Dubai, and Abdullatif Almulla, chief executive Officer of Tecom Investments and Fareed Abdulrahman, executive director of SmartCity.
SmartCity Malta will transform the Ricasoli Industrial Estate in Malta into a state-of-the-art ICT and media business community based on the successful models of Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City.
Ahmad bin Byat said: "Malta was our choice for this project as it is very similar to Dubai in several respects. In terms of strategic location, size, connectivity, access to key markets, and high tourism orientation -- both Malta and Dubai share a natural affinity."
SmartCity Malta will attract an investment of at least $300 million, making this project the largest foreign investment initiative in the ICT sector in Malta. It is projected to generate four percent growth in the Maltese job market.
Bin Byat added: "The real work starts now. Delivering SmartCity Malta will require enormous commitment and effort from both sides. Based on the strong relationship we have established throughout our discussions, we are confident we can create a successful business relationship with Malta."
Gatt said the project makes Malta "a center for world class activities providing top-notch career paths and well-paid jobs to our people, without any compromise with the high quality of the Mediterranean lifestyle. This is not limited to ICT specialists though certainly they are an important element of this."
Under the terms of the agreement, Malta has agreed to make available nearly 358,000 sqm of land to develop the knowledge-based township.
This project will provide a substantial boost to Malta's construction, hospitality, maritime, services and retail sectors. At today's prices SmartCity Malta is expected by 2014 to be making an annual contribution of some 534 million euros to Malta's GDP. This makes SmartCity Malta the single greatest new contributor to Malta's economy ever to have been secured through foreign direct investment.
Over an eight-year period, SmartCity Malta will create 5,600 jobs with the possibility of increasing to more than 7,000 apart from the several hundred jobs created in the economy as a multiplier effect of the project. Apart from new jobs in Malta's knowledge-industry, SmartCity Malta will bring about new employment opportunities in areas of administration, hospitality, retail, maintenance, security and logistics among others. The project is the largest job-creator under one roof in Malta's history.
© Arab News 2007
