SmartCity Malta has reached an advanced planning stage, the SmartCity Malta’s board of directors said following its fourth board meeting for 2008. During the meeting discussions were held on the progress registered by SmartCity Malta and its forthcoming developments.

Following the meeting, Fareed Abdulrahman, SmartCity CEO said: “SmartCity Malta has reached an advanced planning stage. We have contractors and consultants on board who will be abiding by SmartCity’s LEED and green building initiatives, and who are ready to begin the construction of SmartCity Malta as soon as we receive the green light from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. This is an exciting juncture to be at and one step closer to being part of Malta’s realisation as a Smart Island.”

SmartCity Malta, a joint venture between SmartCity and the government of Malta, is a self-sustained industry township primarily catering to the ICT and media industry on a local, regional and international level. SmartCity Malta will lead to the creation of high-quality job opportunities, not only in the ICT and media industries, but also in the fields of management, hospitality, retail, security and logistics.

During the meeting, SmartCity Malta’s board recorded the significantly high interest that SmartCity Malta has generated in its first building, SCM 01, which will be launched and operational in 2010. SCM 01 will feature 12,000sqm of ready-to-operate, state-of-the-art, intelligent office space and will be the base for companies catering for the European and North African region.

The board also noted the high interest created by the retail spaces offered by SmartCity Malta which will cater to the knowledge workers and professionals within the self-sustained township. Extending over 1km of Mediterranean sea-front, SmartCity Malta will offer business and lifestyle amenities featuring state-of-the-art office space, shopping and dining boulevards, panoramic areas and freely accessible open spaces.

SmartCity Malta is the largest foreign investment in Malta, worth $300 million, and also the largest job-creator under one roof in Malta’s history. Over an eight-year period, SmartCity Malta is committed to creating 5,600 jobs.