Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the Malta Tiles factory in Kordin, where he was able to see up close the artisanal process of producing Maltese tiles.
Malta Tiles has been run by the Lia family since 2012, after the family decided to invest in a craft that was at risk of being lost. From its beginnings in a garage, the company continued to grow and invested around €360,000 in a factory in Kordin and in new machinery, also with help from Malta Enterprise’s Micro Invest scheme. Today, production combines modern machinery with original ones that have been restored and preserved, while the company has over 300 different shapes of Maltese tiles.
During the visit, the Prime Minister was given a tour of the factory by members of Robert Lia’s family, where the process of how tiles are made by hand was explained to him, as well as the investment that has been made over the years to give this craft a new lease of life.
The Prime Minister said that stories like that of Malta Tiles show how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.
“Here we have a beautiful example of a family that saw value in a traditional Maltese craft, invested in it and gave it a new future. Progress does not mean setting aside what makes us who we are, but finding new ways to value it and pass it on to other generations,” said the Prime Minister.
The company produces tiles for homes and projects in Malta, while its products have also reached international markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Malta Tiles also welcomes the public, tourists and students to workshops to learn more about the craft. Part of the workshop includes an exercise where those present try to make a tile themselves.
Dr Abela also noted the importance of giving family businesses the space to continue to grow and pass on knowledge and experience from generation to generation. “We want an economy where our businesses do not only grow in size, but in quality, in the value they create and in the skills they leave behind. When a Maltese business manages to preserve our tradition and craftsmanship and at the same time deliver a product made in Malta beyond our shores, it is creating economic value and at the same time strengthening our identity.”
The Lia family is also working to collect and document more information about the people who have worked in the Maltese tile trade over the years, as well as to ensure that Maltese tiles made in Malta are given appropriate recognition and certification.
During the visit, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister Silvio Schembri and Dr Joseph Gerada from the Family Business Office.
Photo: OPM/DOI
