Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Maltese and Gozitan people will be benefiting from the amount of investment that the country is attracting, which he said is transforming it into a centre for economic activity.

Speaking in Mellieha during an activity held to mark the 20th anniversary of the PN club in the locality, Dr Gonzi said that the investment in SmartCity on its own will establish Malta as a centre for IT in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Criticising the opposition for “voting against the project”, Dr Gonzi said the government is confident that other large projects could be attracted to Malta because it believes in the capabilities of the people.

He said the government’s policies are based on sound initiatives in education, the environment and the creation of more employment opportunities. The government is also heavily investing in the health and other sectors.

The government had been able to reduce the financial deficit and increase investment in the main economic sectors. Added to this, inflation had been brought down to less than three per cent, enabling Malta to be able to apply to join the eurozone.

As an example, the Prime Minister mentioned an investment of Lm170 million in education, and this included the building of new schools and colleges in Tal-Handaq, Cospicua, Mosta, Victoria and Pembroke.

Contrary to this, between 1996 and 1998 a Labour government led by Alfred Sant had brought about a deficit of Lm300 million and did not invest in areas that improve the citizens’ quality of life.

Dr Gonzi said the government appreciated the investment being made by private entrepreneurs, including the many owners of small and medium enterprises. He mentioned the various initiatives that were taken in the budget for 2007 – such as the income tax revision – that were aimed at reducing the burden on such businesses.

The government, he said, is determined to continue with its plan of offering incentives to the various economic sectors to create more employment and to lead to further economic growth.

The government is also helping voluntary organisations in various localities to enable them to continue organising activities, so beneficial for society. With regard to Mellieha, Dr Gonzi said that work on the construction of a home for the elderly in the locality will start in the coming weeks.