VALLETTA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced on Monday that Malta plans for further expansion of the aviation industry.
Muscat announced a masterplan to target the expansion at the signing of an agreement between the government and an aviation maintenance company called SR Technics Malta.
Aviation maintenance has gained considerable traction on the Maltese islands and has left a significant impact on the country's economy, with a direct contribution of 3 percent to the GDP (gross domestic product) in 2017.
Muscat said the government was considering all options for growth for the aviation sector and that to this end, the Malta Industrial Parks and Malta Enterprise agencies had been entrusted with drawing up a strategic master plan for the sector.
The agencies are studying the possibility of expansion around the airport, after operator Malta International Airport said it required more apron space to cater for increased air traffic.
Muscat said the government had allocated an additional 4 million euros (4.62 million U.S. dollars) for the training of people to work in the aviation sector.
