No submissions filed in Hal Far logistics hub's request for proposals

The Ministry for the Economy will initiate talks with the Association of Groupage Operators after no proposals were submitted following an international call for proposals.

In October, the government launched a call for proposals seeking to attract local or international operators to submit their proposals for the concession of the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance centre of international logistics, on 45,000 square meters of land in Hal Far.

The site is currently used as the customs groupage complex.

The proposal guaranteed space to the existing groupage operators and at the same time sought to convert or enlarge the site into a multi-level facility that would cater for local and international markets.

In a press statement this evening, the Ministry said that nine international companies had expressed interest in developing the hub, but none of them submitted a proposal.

The government will now “discuss options” with the operators, who amount to around 34.

During the October launch, Economy Minister Chris Cardona said that the government’s vision was to have a strategic hub in Malta for international trade, serving as a Free Zone or as a Custom Warehouse.