PM inaugurates new Lufthansa Tecnik plant

The Maltese should not lose hope in these "turbulent times", Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday, since the country was still managing to attract investment.

As he unveiled the new Lufthansa Technik plant in Luqa, Dr Gonzi said that one of Malta's greatest assets was its flexible, highly-skilled and dedicated workforce, which had continued to attract growth in the sector of high value-added manufacturing.

Although creating opportunities and jobs was a priority for the government, the Prime Minister said that education and training were also essential to the growth of the country's competitiveness.

Even for Lufthansa Technik, the work ethic of the Maltese workforce had been a crucial determinant in this expansion, Dr Gonzi said.

He explained that the company started off seven years ago with 100 workers, but has developed into a multi-million investment with a workforce that is expected to reach 700 by the end of 2010.