The first phase of SmartCity was launched on Saturday, and it has been said that the first employees will be moving in some time next year.

There is no doubt that SmartCity will be a jewel in Malta’s economic crown, and the government must be praised for being able to attract such an important investment to our country. This will provide hundreds of jobs to our youngsters, who are already dreaming of finding employment there.

Computer-generated images that have been shown indicate that the Ricasoli area will be turned into a small paradise, and there is no doubt that the people who will be working there will be doing so in a pleasant environment.

I suggest that other investments – albeit on a much smaller scale as it is difficult to imagine something as big as SmartCity setting up in Malta again – will take into consideration the working environment of the employees who, after all, are the main assets of any type of industry.

Too often, industrial areas are shabby and are also neglected to become dumpsites. It is a real shame that successive governments have allowed industrial areas to deteriorate so much over the years.

All of them should be given a thorough clean-up and then kept in spotless condition.

Carmel Pace

Sliema