Gulf investment could come Malta's way - PM

Potential new investment from the Gulf is expected to be discussed during a visit there by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in April.

The announcement was made by Dr Gonzi himself yesterday morning when he said he would be visiting Gulf countries, where one of the investors in the Swiss-based aircraft maintenance company SR Technics was based.

He stopped short of saying what the investment would consist of, adding only that there were opportunities that should be explored further and stressing the importance of employment for the island.

ST Technics, which last year announced an 11-year $1.6 billion aircraft maintenance operation in Malta, is owned by Gulf-based Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aerospace.

Apart from its aerospace operation, Mubadala Development Company, owned by the Abu Dhabi government, is also involved in ICT, healthcare, energy, industry and infrastructure. Dubai Aerospace is focused on aircraft leasing, maintenance, repair and overhaul together with aviation IT solutions.

Sources close to the Office of the Prime Minister said a business delegation and Malta Enterprise officials were expected to accompany Dr Gonzi on the week-long trip to Bahrain, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

Interviewed by Net journalist Josianne Camilleri at the PN Luqa club, Dr Gonzi said he understood the reaction to the Cabinet reshuffle because many backbenchers wanted to participate and contribute more to the country.

Dr Gonzi said: "We are here to serve and not to be served. This is something we need to remind ourselves constantly."

The country needed a health minister because of the challenges in the sector, including the primary care reform. He said he was open to changes to the proposed reform, which has already been criticised by PN backbencher Jean Pierre Farrugia, who said he would not vote for it in Parliament.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of safeguarding the family and accused the Labour Party and its leader, Joseph Muscat, of a "frontal attack" on the family.

"We are worried about those facing problems and want to help them. But we also need to find solutions to keep families together," he said.

Dr Muscat has already said he would move a Bill on divorce if he were elected to office.

The Labour Party accused Dr Gonzi of lack of credibility, on one hand saying he wanted to help families and on the other burdening them with high water and electricity rates.