PN government will invest in Marsa national hall and expo centre

A Nationalist government will invest €350 million in a national hall and expo centre in Marsa, Alex Borg said on Wednesday as he unveiled more electoral proposals.

The initiative, dubbed Port Distrett Kulturali (Port Cultural District), forms part of the PN’s plan to target what Borg described as niche economic sectors. Another proposal is to invest €12 million in the data, AI and new space economy.

The PN leader said the national hall will serve as the permanent residence for the National Philharmonic Orchestra and will have a capacity of 1,700 people. It will be able to host different cultural events, including opera and ballet.

PN leader Alex Borg speaking about investment in the creative economy and space (Photo: PN)

The national hall and the expo centre will bring a new lease of life to Marsa and the Grand Harbour, Borg said. “We will invest in the best infrastructure to create more work opportunities for artists,” he said, adding the creative economy could generate up to €110 million per year.

PN culture spokesperson Julie Zahra said the national hall complex will also include a secondary theatre with a capacity of 600 people and a black box space for experimental productions. “This is a legacy project that will be beneficial for future generations, students, and professionals,” she said.

Space investment

Borg also pledged that a new PN government will invest in the space sector, through a regulatory structure that would encourage foreign direct investment in downstream services such as data analysis and artificial intelligence.

A PN government will also ensure that Malta becomes an associate member of the European Space Agency to maximise opportunities in the sector, he said. Malta currently has a cooperation agreement with ESA and is not an associate member.

Economy spokesperson Jerome Caruana Cilia said space was a growing economic sector that a PN government will tap into, promising to kick off the necessary process for the country to become an associate member of ESA.

Caruana Cilia said the investment would generate around €100 million for the economy.