Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed, launched the project Med Pot – Mediterranean Pack of Tourism by the Art of Pottery and Ceramic, which is being financed by the European Union under Interreg IIIA, Medpot. The value of the project will be around eur300,000.

“Thanks to European Union projects, we are giving local small businesses the opportunity not only to expand their operations, but also to make contact between themselves and with their counterparts overseas so that together they may offer the best product to their clients,” he said.

The project has brought together 42 participants, including ceramists, hoteliers and tour operators, with the aim of combining the manufacture of ceramics and its touristic marketing.

These participants, together with Sicilian businesses, drew up a plan for the development and creation of a typical Mediterranean artisan product, with the aim of promoting it commercially in Malta.

After the drafting of the plan for the product, Maltese and Sicilian students were asked to produce a number of prototypes of this product. The prototype chosen as the best product was produced by a Maltese student.

Hoteliers are being asked to exhibit the artisan products in their hotels.

A number of hotels have already accepted to do this. These are: Imperial Hotel, Medavia Services, Johnny Holidays, Mariblu Guesthouse, Global Air Travel, Resorts Malta, Hotel Serena, Marina Hotel, Bay Street Hotel, Hotel San Andrea, Diplomat Hotel, Global Air Travel, Bon Voyage, and Westland Travel.

Consultants will be developing a tourist itinerary, which will then be applied jointly by Maltese and Sicilian tour operators.

The project is being carried out in conjunction with the Maltese-Italian Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and the Sciacca local government in Sicily.