Investment in Gozo by Italian card manufacturers delayed

Newspaper l-orizzont reported that Alan Camilleri, Chairman of Malta Enterprise (ME) and Malta Industrial Parks (MIP), had claimed the Italian company Bryvarc would employ 140 people in a factory in Xewkija over a period of three years.

The factory allocated to Bryvarc by MIP is in fact closed, without any production of plastic security cards having occurred.

Parliamentary questions put forward by Labour MP Justyne Caruana questioned the government on proceedings being taken against Bryvarc due to the breach of agreement. Finance minister Tonio Fenech assured parliament that talks were being held with various executives of Bryvarc and judicial proceedings are underway.

In a separate question Justyne Caruana asked the minister what steps were being taken to protect the interests of the employees. Fenech replied that talks are being carried out with the company in question, but that it was "not ideal" to reveal the progress in talks at this stage.

Back in 2009, ME chairman Alan Camilleri had said the package offered by Malta Enterprise was the determining factor that led to the investment. Camilleri said Bryvarc intended to employ 58 people in the first year, 24 in the second year and a further 58 in the third year bringing the total up to 140 in three years.

Bryvarc CEO Carlo Faranda had also stated that ME had facilitated negotiations with banks and other enterprises.