The opening of the EU-Arab League Liaison Office in Malta and the decision to host the European Asylum Support Office here were hailed by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg yesterday as the country's major achievements on the international plane.

Outlining his ministry's work in 2009, Dr Borg said this focused mainly on foreign investment in Malta and the creation of employment opportunities. Such work was bearing fruit with more than 250 companies approaching Malta's embassies abroad in the first two months of this year and expressing interest in investing on the island. He said ambassadors and consuls were instrumental in attracting investment.

The investment of SR Technics in Malta, for example, was the result of the sterling work by Malta's High Commissioner in the UK, Joseph Zammit Tabona, he said.

Dr Borg said his ministry worked to raise people's awareness of Malta's representations abroad. In fact, over 20,000 people contacted embassies and consulates abroad.

He mentioned the business delegation who accompanied then President Eddie Fenech Adami to Poland and another business delegation that visited Qatar when President George Abela paid a state visit there. During the Qatar visit, Lufthansa Technik and Qatar Airways signed an agreement on the maintenance of 25 aircraft in Malta, the first time such work was taking place outside Germany, he said.

Dr Borg said that over the past year, Malta signed 40 bilateral agreements with various countries and concluded 15 double taxation agreements.

He mentioned his meetings with government representatives of various countries and his visit to the Middle East.

Malta had opened an embassy in Israel, a diplomatic representation in Ramallah and consulates in Moscow and Istanbul as well as a High Commission in India.

He confirmed that Italian President Giorgio Napolitano would visit Malta in June.

Through the Overseas Development Aid programme, the ministry distributed €330,000 in financial assistance to NGOs in aid of projects in African countries.

Asked about his position regarding Malta's participation in an anti-piracy mission in Somalia, Dr Borg said this was beneficial on two counts: in terms of training for Armed Forces of Malta personnel and also for the standing of the Maltese merchant flag.