Malta always reached the targets it set in spite of difficulties which cropped up from time to time, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this evening.

He was speaking at the opening of a round table conference on employment and investment organised by the party as part of its Independence Day activities.

The Nationalist Party, Dr Gonzi said, believed in the creation of employment and this had always been the main aim of governments led by the PN.

For it was useless to have a good social services system if employment was not created. This was done if the country was competitive and attracted foreign investment.

A lot of successes had been achieved including membership in the European Union and migration to the euro.

The country managed to overcome the challenges of the ever rising international prices, including of cereals and this problem now seemed forgotten.

Dr Gonzi said that it was fundamental that Malta remained competitive and to ensure this it should continue giving the highest priority to education.

It had to continue investing in infrastructure, not just in roads but also in a better energy provision and in transport.

The job market had to remain strong and the environment had to be strengthened. Taxation systems had to continue promoting work and investment.

Public finances, Dr Gonzi said, had to remain sustainable and research and innovation had to be promoted.

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