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Prime Minister Robert Abela addressed a commemorative activity on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Thermoplastics Ltd in Malta, where he saluted the work, vision and resilience that led this company to become a success story in the manufacturing sector in our country. The Prime Minister pointed out that the manufacturing sector is one that creates careers and opportunities for many Maltese and Gozitan workers. Dr Abela noted that our country reached an important milestone when it registered the highest employment rate in the European Union, as a result of strategic decisions taken over the past few years. He added that manufacturing continued to create jobs, remained competitive and is expected to continue raising the level of quality. At the same time, he paid tribute to all those who work tirelessly to generate success in such an important sector for the Maltese economy. The Prime Minister noted how this company has expanded its operations overseas, in the Mediterranean region and has managed to build commercial networks with large international companies. He said that this clearly shows the potential of Maltese enterprise when it is strengthened by vision, with the necessary investment and with serious leadership. Dr Abela also referred to the Malta 2050 Vision, a vision that looks at manufacturing as a pillar of excellence so that our country continues to produce and export quality products made in our factories, while strengthening our country's global position. He added that this vision is possible because Malta has a strong economy that provides the certainty and stability necessary for businesses to continue investing and expanding. He reiterated that the positive certificates that the Maltese economy continues to receive from international credit agencies and from institutions such as the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund continue to strengthen the Government’s capacity to offer concrete support to businesses, in particular through electricity subsidies. The Prime Minister stated that, while factories across Europe are facing great uncertainty and in some cases are being asked to reduce or stop their operations at certain times, in Malta the Government will continue to keep energy prices stable and give businesses the peace of mind to continue growing and expanding. He said that Malta is the only European country that has kept energy prices stable over the past four years despite international challenges, with an investment that has reached one billion euros to support families and businesses. At the same time, Prime Minister Abela said that the Government will continue to incentivize the two main transformations that must continue to move the industry forward, the digital and the environmental. Dr Abela pointed out that Thermoplastics is already showing a strong commitment to sustainability, including through the use of recycled plastic material. He explained that the environmental core is not only a challenge, but an opportunity. At the same time, the digital core is also another chance for manufacturing to continue to evolve. He said that therefore, investment in skills and the best technology is essential, not for technology to replace workers, but to complement them. Prime Minister Abela concluded by thanking the management and all the workers of Thermoplastics for their contribution during these 30 years, while assuring the company that in Malta it will continue to find stability and peace of mind to continue moving forward. [caption id="attachment_56349" align="alignleft" width="300"] Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri at Thermoplastics Ltd[/caption] Also speaking at the event was Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri, who stressed that the investment in advanced technologies such as automation and 3D printing shows that Thermoplastics is looking ahead and investing in the future. “This is exactly the business model we want to see in our country, a model that goes hand in hand with the Malta 2050 Vision. In this way, we are ensuring that innovation and sustainability are the key elements for an economy that continues to create quality jobs and added value,” said Minister Schembri. Also present was Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli. Thermoplastics Ltd employs more than 250 people in Malta and Tunisia, and supplies products to both local and foreign customers in the toy, automotive, smart technologies, and construction sectors. Photos: OPM/DOI