Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1342444
position not only to strength- en and consolidate our current aviation industry, but also at- tract new niches to generate wealth and quality employ- ment opportunities. Proposals made in the Air- port Zone Strategy Plan that would see innovative oppor- tunities being generated in- clude: a new cargo handling and freight facility, a general aviation terminal that caters to the needs of VIPs and execu- tive jets, an engine run-up test area for the aircraft servicing industry, as well as a separate heliport unaffected by other aircrafts' movements, among others. Such services cannot be pro- vided without a highly-skilled workforce. Firm in the belief that once the international economy starts to gain momentum again there will be many opportuni- ties for our skilled workers, the Government remains com- mitted to support industry in collaborating with MCAST to develop and offer additional career pathways for local talent aspiring to work in the aviation industry. By striving to transform the skills deficit into skills surplus, our youth will be enabled to grasp the opportunities of every economic sector, includ- ing the highly-specialised nich- es within the aviation industry such as maintenance, repair and overhaul services for both winged aircraft and helicop- ters, as well as related fields of engineering. More opportunities are also envisaged to arise as a result of the change in company law announced last year to ac- commodate cell companies in the shipping and aviation industries, which should yield diverse opportunities within these sectors amongst inves- tors, charterers and financiers within the industries. One of the most important benefits emanating from this new structure is that the assets and liabilities of each individu- al cell are a distinct patrimony and therefore they are consid- ered as separate from the core cell company and from other individual cells. Malta's strategic position makes our small island nation in the Mediterranean a natural choice amongst investors and operators in the aviation indus- try. Amid such extraordinary circumstances, the country has an opportunity to buckle up and be prepared for what is in store. With everyone's contribution - be it Government, the busi- ness community, or the hard- working employees – Malta will come out stronger than before for the benefit of all. INDIS MALTA CEO KARL AZZOPARDI