SmartCity Malta
Encyclopedia
SmartCity is a technology park currently under development in Kalkara
, Malta
. The plan is to transform the Ricasoli Industrial Estate into a state-of-the-art information technology
and media city on the models of Dubai Internet City
and Dubai Media City
. The project was unveiled on 10 September 2007 by the Prime Minister of Malta
, Lawrence Gonzi
. The project will cost at least 275 million euro
s. The whole development, which covers an area of 360,000 square metres, is to be fully completed in 2021, although the first offices opened in 2010.
Smart City Malta formally submitted its outline planning application for the development at Ricasoli to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) on 29 April 2008. The submission includes a full Environmental Impact Assessment and Traffic Impact Assessment. SmartCity Malta has applied for up to 158,500 square metres of business space, which represents an increase of 54 per cent over the business space which Smart City Malta is contractually bound to develop. On the other hand, the gross floor area of the residential component has been reduced by 30 per cent, down to 60,000 square metres. In terms of the Outline Planning Application, the residential component makes up 19 per cent of the total gross floor area of the project.
The application also provides for a huge public open space of 118,000 square metres, to serve as a primary recreational area for neighbouring communities. The energy requirements for Smart City Malta will be of 41.2MW.
Smarty City Malta has been allocated a budget of 48 million euros for 2010. Smart City has also drawn up plans to market the project in China, Japan, Korea, Australia and Egypt. Construction is currently going at a good pace.
Cons - Many Maltese people have begun to oppose Smart City as some feel it will hurt the ancient Maltese culture and perhaps not benefit the economy as much as hoped, due to the fact that Dubai has a large stake in Smart City.
Kalkara
Il-Kalkara is a small picturesque village in Malta, with a population of 2,856 . The name is derived from the Latin word for lime , and it is believed that there was a lime kiln present there since Roman times. Kalkara forms part of the inner harbour area and occupies the area around Kalkara Creek...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The plan is to transform the Ricasoli Industrial Estate into a state-of-the-art information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and media city on the models of Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City is an information technology park created by the government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting regional emerging markets. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom...
and Dubai Media City
Dubai Media City
Dubai Media City , part of Dubai Holding, is a tax-free zone within Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has been built by the Dubai government to boost UAE's media foothold, and has become a regional hub for media organizations including news agencies, publishing, online media, advertising, production,...
. The project was unveiled on 10 September 2007 by the Prime Minister of Malta
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
, Lawrence Gonzi
Lawrence Gonzi
Lawrence Gonzi is a Maltese politician who has been Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta from 1988 to 1996, Minister of Social Policy from 1998 to 1999, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004...
. The project will cost at least 275 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s. The whole development, which covers an area of 360,000 square metres, is to be fully completed in 2021, although the first offices opened in 2010.
Outline Planning
On 23 April 2008 it was announced that the decision by SmartCity Malta to allocate more space for its business park meant that this park would employ more than 8,500 people, when the agreed figure for employment there had been 3,000. Smart City Malta, would have the space to employ 11,000, making it one of the biggest economic concentrations in Malta.Smart City Malta formally submitted its outline planning application for the development at Ricasoli to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) on 29 April 2008. The submission includes a full Environmental Impact Assessment and Traffic Impact Assessment. SmartCity Malta has applied for up to 158,500 square metres of business space, which represents an increase of 54 per cent over the business space which Smart City Malta is contractually bound to develop. On the other hand, the gross floor area of the residential component has been reduced by 30 per cent, down to 60,000 square metres. In terms of the Outline Planning Application, the residential component makes up 19 per cent of the total gross floor area of the project.
The application also provides for a huge public open space of 118,000 square metres, to serve as a primary recreational area for neighbouring communities. The energy requirements for Smart City Malta will be of 41.2MW.
Smarty City Malta has been allocated a budget of 48 million euros for 2010. Smart City has also drawn up plans to market the project in China, Japan, Korea, Australia and Egypt. Construction is currently going at a good pace.
Pros and Cons
Pros - It will bring thousands of Jobs to Malta, with estimations of employing up to 10,000 people, which may not seem that much, but in ratio with the countries overall population it is one massive amount, similar to the UK offering up 300,000 jobs. It will certainly benefit Malta's economy somewhat, and will create more highly skilled and paid jobs that Malta hasn't had in the past. The Maltese government also hopes that this will get Malta much worldwide attention and even make Smart City a global capital for IT.Cons - Many Maltese people have begun to oppose Smart City as some feel it will hurt the ancient Maltese culture and perhaps not benefit the economy as much as hoped, due to the fact that Dubai has a large stake in Smart City.
See also
- Smart CitySmart CityUrban performance currently depends not only on the city's endowment of hard infrastructure , but also, and increasingly so, on the availability and quality of knowledge communication and social infrastructure ....
- Dubai Media CityDubai Media CityDubai Media City , part of Dubai Holding, is a tax-free zone within Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has been built by the Dubai government to boost UAE's media foothold, and has become a regional hub for media organizations including news agencies, publishing, online media, advertising, production,...
- Dubai Internet CityDubai Internet CityDubai Internet City is an information technology park created by the government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting regional emerging markets. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom...
- Smart City, KochiSmartCity, KochiSmartCity Kochi is a planned IT township to be constructed in Kochi, Kerala in India. Smart City Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture company formed to develop the Kochi Smart City project. Government of Kerala , TECOM Investments , a subsidiary of Dubai Holding are the main investors of...
- MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...