The Armed Forces of Malta was today granted some €186,000 in EU funds (2007-2013) out of a total €1.8m, making it the top beneficiary from a list of 28 public entities and social partners.

Addressing the media, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg pointed out that sectors such as tourism and health benefitted from funds in the range of between €7,000 and €100,000.

Other benficiaries which received a significant sum were the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (€99,000), the Malta Employers Association (€100,000) the Training and Development Directorate (€100,000). The MHRA will be utilising the funds to commission a study ‘Attracting and Retaining Skilled Workers in Hotels and Restaurants’.

The study aims to identify a number of proposals and success factors that will be incorporated in a strategic and marketing plan, leading to an increase in the tourism industry’s attractiveness. The plan will ensure that the industry is well-staffed in order to meet the government’s tourism vision for year 2030.

As a result of the €1.8m in funds, 1,200 persons working in various sectors will undergo training.

The General Workers’ Union got the least of the lot - €7,092 - to embark on a project aimed at helping empower people through knowledge.

Other beneficiaries included the Programme Implementation Directorate, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Unit, the Malta Enterprise Corporation, the General Retailers and Traders Union, MEPA, the Internal Audit and Investigations Department and the Malta Police Forensic Science Laboratory.