Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529892
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 NOVEMBER 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt A subterranean supermarket with overlying car park and gar- den centre is being proposed at the entrance of Zurrieq opposite the roundabout adorned with the locality's coat of arms. The site lies outside the de- velopment boundaries but in- cludes the existing G Camilleri petrol station whose owners are proposing the new super- market on land which they ful- ly own. Plans envisage the retention of the fuel station, with the car- park and garden centre being proposed on the agricultural fields and stores behind the ex- isting fuel station. The supermarket will front Triq il-Belt Valletta, a busy distributor road and the nar- rower Triq Hal Millieri which is fronted by a row of terraced houses. A number of residents living in this street have already ob- jected to the proposal, express- ing concerns on the traffic im- pact of the project. A resident who spoke to Mal- taToday noted that the sole en- trance and exit to the proposed supermarket are being planned via Hal Millieri Street, a narrow dead-end road that is already struggling with traffic conges- tion. The supermarket is being proposed over two underlying excavated floors. Photovoltaic panels are also being proposed on the roof of the carpark. Approval of this application could set a precedent for de- velopment below the surface of ODZ areas which is not fore- seen in existing policies. Subterranean ODZ supermarket proposed in Zurrieq The supermarket's overlying carpark will encroach on agricultural land and will be fronting a row of terraced houses along Triq Hal Millieri Agricultural area behind petrol station (top) earmarked for supermarket under overlying parking area, and (above) Terraced houses which will face entrance of new supermarket MARIO Xuereb has been ap- pointed as the new Chief Execu- tive Officer of the Malta Business Bureau. Founded in 1996, the MBB is the EU business advisory organisation of The Malta Cham- ber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. Xuereb is a respected profes- sional in journalism, media, and broadcasting circles. Until recent- ly, he held the position of Assis- tant Editor at the Times of Malta. Before this role, he spent 12 years with Public Broadcasting Services, serving as Senior Manager, where he successfully oversaw several documentary and audio-visual projects broadcast on TVM. Ear- lier in his career, Xuereb served as Head of News at Media.Link Communications until 2009. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Xuereb is a vis- iting lecturer at the Department of Policy, Politics & Governance within the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy (FEMA) and at the Institute of Maltese Studies at the University of Malta. Currently, he is pursuing origi- nal research for his doctoral stud- ies. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History, a Postgraduate Certifi- cate in Education, and a European Master's degree in Mediterranean Historical Studies. Xuereb's expertise extends be- yond Malta, having collaborated on audio-visual productions with Radio Rai, the Comunità Radiotel- evisiva Italiana, and TRT. On his appointment, Xuereb commented about his eagerness to lead a multi-talented team of professionals and executives in advocating for and lobbying on behalf of Malta's business com- munity. "I am thrilled to begin this role as CEO of the MBB, at the helm of an organisation composed of a small yet highly capable group of professionals and executives who have dedicated years of work to supporting Malta's business sec- tor. "Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to observe and report on the evolution of various EU directives, regula- tions, and laws, and their impact on Maltese businesses and enter- prises. Now, I have the chance to contribute directly, ensuring that Malta's unique circumstances re- ceive greater recognition in the shaping of European legislation, particularly within the context of today's global challenges. "At the same time, I will ensure that the MBB enhances its com- munication with businesses in Malta, offering them innovative solutions to adapt to ever-chang- ing realities. "To achieve this, I will build on the strong foundation laid by Joe Tanti, whose long and dedicated service leaves a lasting legacy." The MBB President and Board of Directors thanked outgoing CEO Joe Tanti for his loyalty and long years of service during which the organisation grew in its out- reach and services offered to the Maltese business community. During his tenure Tanti played a pivotal role in MBB's growth and development. He spearheaded efforts to strengthen the capaci- ty of MBB's Brussels operations, established the organisation's EU funding arm, and broadened its business services through the MBB's partnership with the En- terprise Europe Network. These initiatives firmly positioned MBB as a leading voice for Maltese businesses within the EU. Malta Business Bureau appoints new CEO Outgoing CEO Joe Tanti (left) welcoming incoming CEO Mario Xuereb