Medical product manufacturer Baxter will be expanding its operations and employing an additional 190 people, Economy Minister Chris Cardona announced early this morning.

During a visit to the company’s factory in Marsa – held at midnight to spend the first minutes of International Workers’ Day in the company of workers doing night shifts – the minister said that the new jobs were being created after the US-based company opted to continue to invest in its Malta facilities, adding that it has found the government’s backing in this.

Plant manager Brian Tabone noted that the company made use of incentives tied to the capital investment the company has made in its equipment.

He noted that the recruitment process was launched in recent weeks, and is expected to be completed in 3-4 months. Thirty new jobs are being created in research and development, while the remaining 160 new workers would be deployed in manufacturing lines.

“We could not have marked Malta’s accession to the EU and International Workers’ Day with more positive news than this: a substantial increase in the number of employees in one of the companies with a strong presence in our country,” Dr Cardona maintained.

The minister said that a record number of projects involving foreign direct investment were approved by Malta Enterprise last year, and that the government is determined to continue maximising the country’s economic potential.

He also maintained that the government is committed to continue helping local industry, including by lowering electricity rates next year.