Manufacturing still has a future, Sant insists

Both traditional and high-tech industries would be encouraged under a Labour government, which would remove bureaucracy in order to encourage investment in Malta, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Speaking following a tour of the De La Rue Security Printers factory in Bulebel, Dr Sant said investment inquiries would be given a reply within three to four months and there would be a one-stop shop where investors would be able to apply for various services.

Dr Sant, who, on his arrival at De La Rue, was greeted with flowers and donations by Labour Party supporters from nearby factories, some carrying Choose Labour flags, described De La Rue as a success story which proved that manufacturing still had a future in Malta.

De La Rue, which now employed some 500 workers, had come to Malta in the 1970s when Labour was in government and it continued to modernise, reaffirming Malta's importance as a base. When Labour took office in 1996, it found De La Rue facing some uncertainty but the Labour government soon made the company feel welcome and it expanded its operations.

A new Labour government, Dr Sant said, would continue to encourage such factories.

Asked what kind of industry a new Labour government would be seeking for Malta, Dr Sant said there were industries, especially in the pharmaceutical, engineering and maritime services sectors, which started producing one thing, researched to improve their product and started manufacturing the improved product. Such industries would be ideal for Malta but all offers of investment would be considered.

Malta also had to work to attract investment from countries that were currently not being tapped, such as China, Russia and Kuwait.