Speaking during an interview on Radio 101, Dr Gonzi said that “the EU has confirmed what the government has been repeating all along and what the government implemented through Budget 2008; that is that there is a heavy investment in Malta, that the rate of employment is on the rise, and that the increasing consumption of goods shows that cash is flowing,” he said.

Dr Gonzi said that Budget 2008 was a sign of courage for the coming year and the EU’s confidence in Malta proves that the government’s policies are on the right track and have taken Malta onto higher ground.

He mentioned Farsons as an example, saying that the company has invested Lm10.5 million in the completion of a bottling plant to comply with the EU regulations on beverage packaging.

He added that the Toly products relocation from the UK to Malta meant that Toly’s engineering centre will start operating from here. An Italian company is planning to open a factory in Malta next year – all this clearly showed that Malta was being considered as an ideal place for investment.

The distribution centre of electricity supply in Marsascala, which would also be feeding the cables in SmartCity, was another step to prepare the country for further investment.

Prime Minister Gonzi said that on a visit at Fort Ricasoli with Investments, Industry and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt, he was told by Tecom’s chief operating officer that the initial work did not only consist of removing old factories, but also collecting old pieces of asbestos and beams for recycling.

“SmartCity is not just a project for modernisation, but one which considers the environment in doing so,” the prime minister said.

He confirmed that out of around 5,600 jobs that will be created at SmartCity, around 2,000 would not be linked to IT.

“It is premature to discuss the positive consequences Malta will attract due to this investment”, Dr Gonzi said. However it will be interesting to find out the number of Maltese employees working in SmartCity and the rate of competition generated by such a workforce.

“Some foreigners are still questioning why Malta has been chosen for such a huge investment and this can only increase interest in the country,” he said.

Prime Minister Gonzi then referred to the Labour Party’s politics and said that it was a shame and a scandal that the opposition had turned the first cardiology procedure at the Mater Dei hospital into a political ball.

“The MLP does not believe in the skills of our medical professionals and I think they owe an apology to Maltese medical sector,” Dr Gonzi stated.

All those in the medical profession working in the hospital need all the support and cooperation needed to make this transition as smooth as possible.

“It is scandalous that in relation to an issue which is of national interest, the Health shadow minister insults a team of medical professionals describing the first operation carried out at Mater Dei a gimmick,” Dr Gonzi said.

He added that the Maltese doctors and nurses offer the highest quality services and he said that he can’t wait until a new life is born inside the Mater Dei walls.

He emphasised that at the signing of the agreement between the government and the MUMN, it was the doctors and nurses themselves who described it as a historical agreement. He said that due to the recent collective agreement, teachers’ salaries have increased substantially.

The government was also giving EUR100 million to farmers for the production of genuine locally produced foods. He said that he was aware that the price of animal fodder had increased exorbitantly and that this sector needed economic help when faced with growing crops.

Dr Gonzi then spoke about Budget 2008 and said that around Lm5 to Lm6 million were allocated for the Children’s allowance keeping with the Nationalist theme ‘Making families stronger’.

The fact that all families with children will be receiving the Children’s Allowance proves that child up-bringing is vital for this government, he said.

“If people logged on the Budget 2008 website, and had a few minutes’ chance to calculate their salary rise because of the decrease in tax bands, they will realise that they have benefited from the income tax scheme,” Dr Gonzi said.

Prime Minister Gonzi also addressed the pension measure and said that those pensioners who were self-employed and who could not receive pension can now do so by declaring their retirement and continue to work at their convenience.

He also said that the housing authority scheme for young couples wanting to buy property could be easily accessible once they go to the bank and request shared ownership.