Cosmetics packaging manufacturer Toly Products has pledged to find ways to attract new business to Malta, with company chief executive Andy Gatesy saying this was one of its targets for 2010.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday afternoon, Mr Gatesy said although the company had plants around the world, Malta remained at the heart of the Toly Group.

Mr Gatesy, who visited Dr Gonzi with Toly's international sales team, said he appreciated the support of the government, especially in the past year.

Toly Products was one of the companies that received government aid for the training of employees and capital investment in new technologies and product lines last year.

In June, Toly Products announced an investment of €13 million on a new factory in Ħal Far, just seven months after it laid off 84 workers. It also plans to invest €3.5 million on automation, although Mr Gatesy had said it would still increase its workforce by 10 per cent as new products were added.

The company, which has been in Malta for 40 years, manufactures plastic packaging for cosmetic products.

Dr Gonzi stressed that Malta's small size allowed the authorities to formulate tailor-made aid packages for industry. He said Toly's investment on the new factory also showed Malta had retained its competitive edge in manufacturing.

Malta, said the Prime Minister, would only remain competitive through trained human resources, which was why the government was strongly investing in education.