Now that the agreement for the SmartCity Malta project has been sealed, when are the first deliverables expected? The Malta Independent caught up with Fareed Abdulrahman, SmartCity Executive Director, to discuss the project’s development, its environmental obligations and human resources

When is groundbreaking date for the SmartCity Malta project?

We will break ground immediately after the completion of demolition of existing structures.

What is expected to happen next?

The key priorities include setting up a SmartCity Malta office, demolishing the existing structures, like factories, warehouses etc., and obtaining appropriate approvals.

How is SmartCity Malta going to proceed in the coming two to three years?

The development of the infrastructure will take place first, followed by the development of office space. There will be a gradual transformation of Ricasoli into a knowledge-based industry township.

By when should we have the first building ready? And which one would that be? What would it house?

The first building will be ready within 18 months from groundbreaking day. It will offer more than 10,000 square metres of office space.

There has been talk in Malta that this might have been a cheap land grab. Had you considered and compared land prices elsewhere before choosing Malta for your investment?

Cost of land is not the only factor in our investment decisions. Our investments are primarily based on certain key criteria. We look at destinations that have potential for being a regional knowledge-economy hub and for general knowledge-industry growth. We also consider other criteria like the commitment of the government for knowledge-based development, the presence of a reliable ICT infrastructure and an educated workforce.

What measures will be taken to make sure this project does not look like a construction site for 14 long years?

The project will obviously follow all the measures required by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), including the Environment Impact Assessment. The project is also phased in a manner so as to limit the construction impact on the surrounding environment and on the buildings already functional to a minimum.

How will you make sure the rubble generated by the excavations is disposed of correctly? Is the dumping going to be regulated and monitored?

Construction material will be disposed according to the environmental regulations of Malta. We will follow every measure necessary to comply with Maltese rules and regulations.

Will you make the EIA accessible?

We will follow the guidelines of the MEPA in this regard.

What criteria, including aesthetic ones, will be used to make sure SmartCity Malta is what it promises to be and not look like a concrete jungle?

SmartCity Malta will maintain high standards of design so that the project is appealing aesthetically. About 33 per cent of the project will feature public spaces. All the buildings will be surrounded by exquisitely designed landscaping. An amphitheatre and the beautiful lagoon will add to the overall ambience. There will also be playgrounds adjoining the residential areas in the project. All buildings will be constructed according to an international LEED silver service level which takes into consideration environmental issues.

Are restoration works on existing structures of certain archaeological or historical importance planned?

As far as we know there are no such structures that fall within our project area. If there are any, we will certainly develop them.

What is the reason for including Sama Dubai in a 50%-50% joint venture?

Sama Dubai is an infrastructure developer with strong project management expertise. They have developed several community projects that have attracted significant business, tourism and retain interest. It was felt that for a project of this magnitude, we needed to have a partner like Sama Dubai.

Besides, Farhan Fairaidooni, the executive chairman of Sama Dubai played an instrumental role in the development of the Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City and brings considerable knowledge and expertise to this joint venture.

Will the tenancies at SCM be affordable for the Maltese Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firms?

There are many offerings that will make the project attractive. Our focus is to provide value to companies based in SmartCity Malta. The tenancies will be competitive.

Will property prices at SmartCity Malta be regulated in some way?

The Maltese economy is an open economy and it is envisaged that economic rules will determine the prices. As far as SmartCity Malta is concerned, we will make every effort to attract and retain our business partners.

Is it possible to have a minimum share of space for Maltese firms at realistic prices?

We will be bringing to SmartCity Malta a concept similar to what we call FirstSteps in Dubai Internet City. FirstSteps offers temporary cost-effective office space to companies who want to test the viability of their business plan without making the large initial investments necessary to set up a full-fledged office. A lot of business support services are provided under this scheme. Later, when the business is more viably established, the company can move to a permanent space. This concept was very successful in Dubai Internet City where many companies took up the scheme to develop later into larger successful companies.

The project is being promoted that it will make Malta the best EU country in ICT, yet it is locally criticised that it is committing only 19% of a footprint of 350,000 square metres to ICT. What is your comment on this?

The basic facts are that 46 per cent of the Gross Built Area will be used for the ICT and Media Business Park. 29 per cent will be used for commercial purposes, while 25 per cent will be used for lodging purposes.

Does the SCM plans take into consideration access for people with disabilities?

The project will be constructed in a way to ensure free movement for all people, including those with disabilities. Supporting people with disabilities is a very important concern for all projects that are part of the Dubai Holding group. We have started many programmes that actively support people with disabilities. For example, TECOM developed an organisation called Tamkeen, which strives to empower vision-impaired people in UAE through training, support, and counseling.

Do you have a Corporate Social Responsibility programme? If yes, what will you be committed to?

We believe that to make a business project sustainable, it should have the support of all stakeholders including the community. We will develop a CSR programme as part of SmartCity Malta’s strategy.

As the biggest investor in Malta, what kind of contributions is SmartCity is going to give to the social life in Malta?

Smart City Malta will be designed to provide wonderful opportunities for social interaction. The public spaces, the lagoon, the amphitheatre and the landscaped environment will all contribute to a vibrant social life.

Will family-friendly measures be implemented in SmartCity Malta?

Yes. There will be a day-care centre and paved walkways near the beach. There will be restaurants along the waterfront and playgrounds adjoining the villas.

Have you started recruiting the senior management team? If yes, for which roles?

We haven’t started recruiting yet. At the moment, we have project managers, a master planner and consultants. We are putting together a small team in Malta. As the project develops, more people will be added.

How sustainable is the 5,600 new jobs promise going to be? Will it be with Maltese employees?

The signing parties are both committed to making this project sustainable. This is why it took more than one year to finalise the deal and ensure that SmartCity Malta will create jobs and develop the right infrastructure and business environment. The project will generate a large number of jobs for the Maltese people. But there will also be foreign knowledge workers working within SmartCity Malta. What we envision is a rich and vibrant multi-cultural environment.

Are you confident that the University of Malta and the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology are geared up for the large demand?

We are informed that they are. We understand this is a national priority and we believe that the government is concentrating all resources to meet this challenge. Apart from this, we expect the larger education and training sector to be an important partner and stakeholder in the SmartCity Malta project. Their contribution is vital in developing the talent necessary for the growth of the ICT and media sectors. Overall, we believe a project like this will galvanise the generation of talent.