Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has officially opened EC New York, the third school in the US to be acquired by the successful Maltese group of English language schools.

The school, overlooking Times Square, opened its doors earlier this year and a company spokesman said it has garnered increased success and flourishing student numbers despite the global economic crisis.

During the official opening, Andrew Mangion, EC's executive chairman, credited the staff across the group for the continued achievements the company has experienced.

He explained the motivation of the EC team: "This year, EC's 700 plus staff will help over 25,000 students from over 120 countries to learn and improve their English language skills, a language that will expand people's horizons and allow them to see further, bringing them together and understanding one another".

Dr Gonzi congratulated EC for its international expansion, noting that, although Malta was small, as a nation it could compete and succeed in an international environment. He emphasised the fact that his government supported the entrepreneurial environment and EC encompassed this standpoint by taking a Maltese brand to an international audience.

Dr Gonzi referred to EC's success and the alignment the company has with the government's Vision 2015 project in terms of promoting educational excellence, one of the main pillars of this initiative.

EC group now consists of eight year-round English language schools in the US, the UK, South Africa and Malta. Plans for continued expansion in the US are in hand with the next school opening set to be in San Francisco.