The long overdue regeneration project of Crafts Village, Ta’ Qali, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, Minister of Economy, Investment and Small Business of Malta, Chris Cardona announced today.

Work on the project began roughly in June of this year. The project had remained a contentious issue among operators at Crafts Village who have pressured the last five administrations to revitalise the area.

The aim of the project is not just the revitalisation of the area but also rebranding in order to attract tourists to the area and allow the village to compete with others such villages in the rest of Europe, Cardona said.

The minister explained that €10 million from the €14 total cost of the project are coming from EU funds whilst the other €4 is forked out by the private enterprise. The EU funds will cover   infrastructure, water, energy, pavements, roads and landscaping.

The minister focused on the needs of the operators. Before these had no legal rights on the property they worked in, he said, but now they have been given contracts providing them with total ownership rights for the next 65 years. They have a fixed annual ground rent on condition they would finance the construction of their new premises themselves whereas Malta Industrial Parks will be responsible for carrying out the infrastructural work of the area.

“We always spoke about how the one negotiating needs peace of mind and should not be found to be unstable or shocked because I understand that these people have invested their money and life into these projects and so this stability is going to be returned to the operators of Crafts Village. There will be total regeneration; new roads, new lights, new car parks, open areas for the public due to landscaping. The area will attract not just tourists but also Maltese who are interested but are not so attracted by the area” the minister said.

The project will see the development of car parks, including areas that are specifically for buses, as well as various green public areas. Additionally, the transformed Crafts Village will be providing master classes in the various types of arts and products created within its boundaries.

The Chairman of Malta Industrial Parks, Tony Zahra, spoke about common branding in which every product and art created at Crafts Village will be one product, one brand. He added that the time frame for the project, will be a challenge with only a year and 3 months to complete the whole transformation, but emphasised that after the infrastructure is finished it will be the activities that will attract people to visit the area.

The architect of the project, Evan Bartolo, spoke about plans for the area, one being the incubator centre where master classes will he held, as well as the interpretation centre and parking areas.