Browsing through the international company’s current projects quickly gives an overview of what’s happening on the Maltese Islands in terms of large, quality construction developments. The company is Malta-based, with “Turkish DNA” as Kor Kurt Akin, Director of the ESC Group, aptly summarises the company’s profile. It has been established in Malta for the past five years, working mainly on infrastructural projects for public entities and superstructural projects for private interests.
The brand’s values can be seen in several recent road renewal projects across Malta, on which Mr Akin assesses that the company has done a “good job”. It also has a number of ongoing marine-related construction initiatives, including the new Cargo Facility at Ras Ħanżir, Corradino that promises to substantially increase the availability of mooring space for ships within the Grand Harbour.
In an understated fashion, but rightly with pride, Mr Akin also makes reference to the shore-to-ship high voltage connection that has recently come into operation. Since its launch in recent weeks with the supply of one cruise liner, it has been tested further by having two cruise liners supplied simultaneously, and was set to power a mega cruise liner at the time of writing. Mr Akin highlights that this facility in Malta is one of the first of its kind in Europe. This project, widely and positively acclaimed, allows ships docked at the Grand Harbour to have their electricity needs supplied directly from the national grid without resorting to their own engines, resulting in a significant positive impact to the air quality in the region.
Mr Akin also points to the ESC Group’s recent construction of the Fortress Gardens Q3 residential tower at Tigné Point as another feather in the company’s cap. He contends that “Our forte is that we plan first and then execute. Managing and delivering a 16-storey building in 15 months - 3 months earlier than the contracted timeframe - is something not every contractor can do." By way of example, he points out the completed Paola Regional Health Centre, and the Gozo Aquatic Sports Complex which is currently being constructed, providing several indications of accelerated timelines.
In a similar vein, Mr Akin makes reference to work that at the time of writing was being conducted on the MR Linac Building at the Mater Dei Hospital. He notes that this project has extensive and specialised requirements related to its purpose, with specifications that are more complex than usual, reflecting its purpose to house radiotherapy medical equipment.
The ESC Group also has operations in Libya, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Qatar. Strategically based in Malta, its vision is to branch out to other EU Member States, with projects already being lined up in Italy, while also being in close proximity to North African countries. Mr Akin cites Malta’s longstanding good relations with both neighbouring Libya and Italy as positive factors that greatly enhance the geographical considerations.
The Group’s workforce is considered a core asset. He remarks that most of the employees at ESC have been with the conglomerate for a long time. Ultimately “team work pays off” and Mr Akin gives various indications clearly showing how the company’s workers are very focused on the goals that need to be attained. The Group also has the advantage of having a broad range of skills across the various companies that it encapsulates, allowing a good degree of flexibility in that regard. The scale that the Group operates at and the myriad of solutions required to be in place for the type of projects it undertakes are also indicative of a highly capable staff complement.
Besides being Director of the ESC Group, Mr Akin is also heavily involved in the Maltese Turkish Business Network and is the Malta representative on the World Turkish Business Council (DTIK) – a prestigious body in Türkiye aimed at strengthening the Turkish business community spread worldwide. This also reflects Mr Akin’s assertion of the Group’s position as the largest employer of Turkish nationals in Malta.
The commitment to engage, as personified by Mr Akin, is also visible when he elaborates on the Group’s approach to clients’ requests. Mr Akin notes that potential clients can expect a lot of questions before the company takes on the work. The answers to such probing queries primarily lead to the finalisation of a plan on the way forward. Professionals at ESC seek to gather as much information as possible, so as “to avoid surprises”. This in turn enables the company to quote more precisely its cost estimations and delivery timelines and resulting in less eventual “surprises” also for clients, Mr Akin rightly observes, presenting a win-win scenario.
While the company is taking price fluctuations into account across its operations, Mr Akin does not expect a slowdown for the Maltese economy. Looking ahead to 2024, the ESC Group will be involved in more upcoming projects. On this note, Mr Akin lends a word of caution, remarking that business in now operating in an “inflationary environment, that makes planning more important, and where budgeting is key.”
Judging from the emphasis placed on this aspect, the company’s inclusion of the term “efficient solutions” in its name is certainly no coincidence. He refers to the concept of “value engineering” that the company adopts, providing solutions that are similar to what is required but cheaper, making it more advantageous to the client and ensuring that delays to ongoing projects are kept at minimal levels.
Highlighting that the ESC Group often works in tandem with partnering Maltese companies on local projects, Mr Akin makes reference to joint operations already in place involving concrete and asphalting as examples, besides the various other projects underway. All in all, Mr Akin underlines the Group’s preference to collaborate with other Maltese companies, pooling its expertise and strengths while making use of other local companies’ well established supply and distribution networks.
Five years ago, this “Maltese company with Turkish DNA” started making inroads in the local scene. Its plans are ambitious and go beyond the country’s borders. However, they seem to be very well-grounded. Mr Akin’s focus on meticulous planning underscores the way ahead, and with an eye on efficiency, one can confidently be assured that the ESC brand will retain its visibility in several current and upcoming large projects.
