Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has inaugurated an investment by Westrade Ltd., a Maltese company in Sardinia which carries out research in aviation, particularly in new navigation systems, for the Airbus global aviation development company.

The Maltese company is based in Sardinia and includes Italian interests, whilst employing Maltese engineers and other staff. The company is studying the use of systems like drones and air transport systems of the future in a project known as BAT, with an investment in excess of eight million euro.

The Prime Minister stated that through this investment Malta is putting its name to an important project which includes a partnership with a company like Airbus. Dr Muscat added that if Malta wishes to continue developing in this sector, it has to look to its neighbours and create synergies with them for international projects.

The Prime Minister further stated that Malta also intends to continue expanding its aviation sector by considering new niches like the drone industry and aircraft with automatic piloting, as well as research and development in aviation.

Malta is home to the world's biggest aviation company, primarily for maintenance of their aircraft from airplanes to helicopters, and is also investing in research and development, aircraft leasing and navigation, including transport of merchandise.

Dr Muscat reiterated his pride in the involvement of Maltese engineers in this project, adding that Malta is on the right road to move ahead in research and development.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Frank Farrugia, and by the Chief Executive of Malta Enterprise, Mario Galea.