There can be anything up to 30,000 individual containers at the Malta Freeport at any one time, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi learned yesterday during a trip to the sprawling terminal.

The Prime Minister turned up with Investment Minister Austin Gatt and was met by Freeport chairman Mark Portelli at the gate. From there, the first port of call was the Freeport’s canteen where Dr Gonzi and Dr Gatt met various workers, knowing many of them by name.

Dr Gonzi and Dr Gatt turned up during the morning break and both spent a good 20 minutes chatting away to various employees, some of them being personal acquaintances.

From there, Dr Gonzi and Dr Gatt were shown up to the Control Room by Mr Portelli. One employee of 11 years explained the loading and unloading system to Dr Gonzi. The Prime Minister asked how many containers are handled at any given time, to which the operator replied: “We can have up to 30,000 containers being handled here at one time.”

Dr Gonzi also asked how many containers are handled each year, to which Mr Portelli replied, 1.9 million, with the aim of increasing the number to three million once the next batch of investment is made by CMA CGM, to whom the Freeport is leased.

Dr Gonzi was then shown around the area which the Freeport aims to recover from the sea. “As you can see, this is a very large and impressive space. It was privatised at the government’s behest in 2004 with an investment of e45 million,” he told the media.

He said that the agreement signed on Monday with CMA CGM will see another e130 million investment and the creation of 500 additional jobs. “CMA CGM wants Malta to be the best and largest Freeport in the Mediterranean and we, as they are, are convinced that this is possible,” said Dr Gonzi.

He said that the Freeport currently generates 1,000 jobs, but this will increase by 500 once the new funds injection starts to be felt. “This shows the faith that foreign investors have in our country and our highly adaptable and capable human resources,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr Gonzi said he was sure that the Freeport would remain competitive and a force to be reckoned with. “I take this opportunity to thank the management, and especially the staff for their work ethic, helping to make Malta more successful,” he said.

In conclusion, Dr Gatt took a question about the Brindisi Terminal in Italy, saying that it had been liquidated and that all creditors were paid off.