News 08/09/2002

Italians interested in tendering for road works

By Ray AbdillaItalian contract workers are ready to start putting Malta’s roads into order. The Italian contractors, renowned for their professionalism in road works, have expressed interest in revamping Malta’s roads and are expected to start tendering for road repairs, include tarmac work, MaltaToday confirmed.

It is a well known fact that most road contractors fail to abide by project deadlines and quality control specifications. Equally well known is the fact that the government is dissatisfied with the situation and could opt for other sources if the state of affairs continues.

It is understood that a number of Italian contractors have expressed serious interest in tendering for Maltese road works at cheaper prices than are current on the islands.

In fact, MaltaToday can confirm that the Italian contractors are even ready to offer free materials and to abide by time constraints to finish the job.

Until some years ago a cartel existed in Malta in which contractors would charge the government 40 per cent more than today's prices. But the cartel came to an end with the advent of the Competition Act.

Italians are in a position to tender for such work due to the protocol agreement existing between Malta and Italy, which binds Malta to spend a percentage of the funds awarded to Malta by Italy on Italian concerns.