This month sees the introduction of a new season of exhibitions in a new venue – all exhibitions, previously held at the Naxxar Fair Grounds have moved to the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) at Ta’ Qali.

The exhibition season started yesterday, with the opening of the Machinery and Tools Fair, where DIY enthusiasts and tradesmen will find a vast array of tools. Visitors will also have the opportunity of taking part in prize competitions.

There will also be a seminar on health and safety at work. This seminar will be delivered by MSB Valletta Limited.

Speaking during the opening of the fair, Edwin Vassallo, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and the Self-employed said the country was succeeding in creating job opportunities. Figures bore this out, he said. Workers had in the second quarter this year earned Lm247 million, compared to Lm237.4 million in the same quarter last year. Domestic expenditure had risen too, from Lm326.6 million to Lm337.3 million. So had value added, which from Lm461.9 million had gone up to Lm492.4 million

Mr Vassallo said workers were earning more, the economy was expanding and the country was increasingly approaching a knowledge-based economy.

He urged everyone to improve the quality of their work or service offered. A code of ethics had been published to direct the behaviour of those involved in commercial activity, he said, urging those in the sector to follow it.

The Machinery and Tools Exhibition is open to the public up to Sunday. Opening times are 6 to 10pm today, 5 to 10pm tomorrow, and from 10am to 12.20pm and 3 to 9pm on Sunday.