New aviation maintenance operation inaugurated

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday inaugurated the facilities of MCM Maintenance Malta in Luqa, a new aviation maintenance operation that joins the likes of Lufthansa Technik, SR Technics, and Medavia.

Gonzi called the operation a “welcome addition” to the fast growing aviation maintenance cluster in Malta. MCM will be providing services to light executive jets.

Gonzi once again paid tribute to his Vision 2015, the national plan setting targets for ‘excellence’ in industry and various other sectors: “the country is on track in achieving the targets set by Vision 2015 which include establishing Malta as a centre of excellence for high value-added industry.”

Gonzi said the new operation was part of the diversification of the industrial base and targeted a specific niche sector. “This strategy has helped us weather the economic turbulence over the past year. We have successfully managed to secure our economy as a regional leader in the pharmaceutical, ICT and financial services sectors confirming that Malta is still competitive on the international market. This investment attractiveness and robustness has allowed Malta to register a 3.4% real GDP growth in the first quarter of the year.  Malta is in fact one of the best performing European Member States.”

The prime minister said the MCM operation “did not happen by chance” but was the result of “responsible economic policies coupled with attractive investment incentive packages... our ability to attract foreign investment even in the midst of an international turbulent scenario, hinges on the availability of high-skilled labour and other strengths that only Malta can be proud of.”

MCM’s presence in Malta will be complimenting the strong and growing aviation cluster that includes Lufthansa Technik, SR Technics and Medavia.

Government is also working on a €17 million aviation park in Safi to attract investment to the aviation cluster. “It is also another step in achieving our ambition – that of becoming a regional centre of excellence in high value-added manufacturing and ancillary services.”