The Maltese Prime Minister Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, on November 17 announced that SR Technics, one of the leading aviation maintenance companies in Europe based in Zurich, will be setting up an operation in Malta which will create 350 jobs by 2014 with potential for even more.  The Malta operation will be servicing easyJet’s 157 strong aircraft fleet following a 10 year aircraft maintenance deal between SR Technics and easyJet.  The presence of two international names of this calibre is significant, as is the scale of the investment and work opportunities being created.  This is a 40 million Euro project that is creating 350 new jobs in its initial phase.  The quality of the investment is one that will increase the high value added services delivered from Malta.  Moreover, the aircraft traffic that will be generated increases the potential for additional services as well as tourism routes being created.  This investment is another significant and concrete step towards achieving our country’s vision for 2015 which includes establishing Malta as a centre of excellence for high-value added industry.  Over the past few years, Malta has fast established itself as a regional hub of aircraft maintenance.