[WATCH] As Freeport faces difficult year, Busuttil recognises its success

Simon Busuttil visits the Malta Freeport

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil recognised the success of the Malta Freeport after a tour of its various areas, saying that it was an example of the Nationalist Party's vision for Malta.

Following the investment of over €28 million, the Malta Freeport has acquired a number of key cranes since the end of last year. Freeport CEO Alex Montebello said that while their competitors registered a decline, the Freeport was still going strong.

“Next year will bring new challenges, however,” he said. “We will face new challenges due to a financial crises which will be worse than the previous one.”

To overcome the challenges which are reportedly to be faced by the maritime transhipment industry, Montebello explained, without going into much detail, that the company will be turning to partnerships.

“Next year we will be making three alliances in order to keep our current workload and prevent our competitors from taking our business.”

Busuttil, who was visiting the premises, commented on the great success of the Freeport.

“It is incredible that a country of just half a million is able to build such an industry which sustains so many families”

Busuttil said that this success was what the Nationalist Party envisaged for the country's economy.

“Our economic vision is that our country should develop its sectors,” he said, before commenting that the Freeport was a double success because it profited investors as well as supported so many employees.