The country’s economy has to focus on commerce that provides the largest possible value added to the products and services the country delivers and therefore it is essential to be innovative and at the forefront of development.

Dr Gonzi was speaking at a press conference, held at Megabyte Ltd’s premises at the Technopark, as part of activities marking the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Dr Gonzi said he was delighted to visit the company, which, he added, has an impressive track record of successes.

The firm should be used as a model for other companies, especially in the IT sector.

The founder’s vision and entrepreneurship was matched by the investment they had made over the years on their human resources as well as on research and development.

At present, the company boasts a team of 52 employees. However, the road to success was not easy, chairman Thomas Galea explained.

The company was founded in 1979, by himself and his brother, Carm Galea, with the aim of exploring what was then, the “virgin computer sector”.

In 1988, the directors decided to expand their operations and negotiated a partnership deal with L. Farrugia & Sons, (now Farrugia Investments Ltd).

This merger gave the company added entrepreneurial strength, which was coupled to its technical background.

Over the years the company has embarked on a number of high profile IT projects.

Among these are the development of a weekly lotto system, the national ID card system, the VAT system, the hospital patient administration system and, more recently, the development of a route profitability solution developed for Air Malta.