Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said that according to figures published by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Malta’s economy continued to register substantial growth such that GDP grew a further 4.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2016, when compared to the same period last year.

The minister was speaking at the official opening of the Construction, Property and Interiors Expo 2016 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. He added that the government was investing in further training in this sector through the introduction of skill cards for different trades.

Mr Mizzi underlined the importance of this expo, which brings together exhibitors from different fields that offer products and services of quality beneficial to consumers, developers and related stakeholders under one roof.

The expo promotes products on the local market and offers exhibitors the opportunity to display them and to meet the public.

He went on to say that the government was studying the legislation that concerned construction so that laws could be adaptable to today’s needs and in compliance with EU directives.

“We are giving more importance to security as well as enforcement during construction.” He said the EU recognises the important role of the construction sector in the European economy because it generates about 10 per cent of GDP of the EU as well as about 20 million jobs.

Expo organiser Jason Attard thanked participating companies for believing in what his company, MING Ltd, was trying to achieve through this expo, saying that the innovative products on display should help consumers in general. “We now invite the Maltese and Gozitans to come see these exciting elements of the construction and interiors worlds.”

He said the expo would be held annually and that it was one of various efforts by his company “so that we too can play our part to create awarenes on the need for sustainable buildings and better quality levels of the industry”.

The expo closes today at 8pm.