PM visits industry 'success stories'

Investment taking place in the manufacturing industry was a clear sign of confidence in the country and in the opportunities that investors had to expand their operations and increase business, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Malta's manufacturing sector was surmounting the competition by undertaking the necessary changes and investing heavily in equipment and human resources.

Students needed to understand that the Maltese economy was offering good opportunities for science and technology graduates, the Prime Minister added.

Dr Gonzi speaking during a visit yesterday to Playmobil, Trelleborg Dowty and Nylon Knitting - all "success stories" - as part of the activities to commemorate Labour Day.

At Playmobil, which employs 720 workers, chief executive Helga Ellul announced that the company was embarking on another expansion project, which would mean a further investment of Lm4 million. It has already issued applications to hire additional technical staff.

Over the past few years, the company had invested Lm8 million in the building of new premises, while Malta Enterprise had put in another Lm5 million, she said.

Ms Ellul said the company was investing an average of Lm3 million a year in machinery.

Trelleborg Dowty employs 830 workers and invested Lm8 million to remain competitive, while Malta Enterprise invested a further Lm4 million in the company's new factory in Hal Far.

Nylon Knitting has 311 workers and is investing Lm5 million. It is taking on more staff because its overseas orders are regularly on the rise, the company's general manager Pierre Luigi di Pilato said.

Mr di Pilato noted that the company had invested Lm16 million between 1998 and today.