Lawrence Gonzi described the unveiling of the SmartCity Malta master plan in Dubai as an example of the trust foreign investors had in the Maltese. The project was the beginning of a new era for Cottonera and the country, and would improve the quality of life of people in Cottonera and the environment where it would be built, he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a social activity in Vittoriosa, where he appealed to parents to urge their children to continue with their studies so that they would be able to profit from the opportunities which would arise in the coming months and years. They should not create a situation where, because there were not enough trained workers, foreign workers would have to be brought. They wanted to create opportunities for the Maltese workers, Dr Gonzi said.

He wondered about the motives of the General Workers Union, whose newspaper had not reported anything when the SmartCity master plan was launched. SmartCity, he pointed out, represented the biggest investment the country had attracted since independence, and would create 5,600 jobs

Dr Gonzi also criticised the Labour Party for its criticism in September 2006, when negotiations on SmartCity were in progress and party leader Alfred Sant had described SmartCity as a Nationalist Party gimmick which amounted to land speculation.

The Prime Minister also referred to projects aimed at regenerating Grand Harbour, and said that projects had already been implemented in Grand Harbour, including Valletta Waterfront in Floriana and at Vittoriosa Waterfront. Apart from the 20 projects identified for Grand Harbour, there had also been the home for the elderly in Cospicua, restoration works in Cottonera and the sports complex there.