During Wednesday’s economic vision press conference titled ‘A Future Proof Malta’ led by Minister for the Economy Silvio Schembri, a number of key points revolving around Malta & Gozo and their economic and environmental future were discussed.

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri said that back in 2012 we were in a situation where Gozo was lagging in economic growth when compared to Malta, the unemployment rate was high and there was a lack of job opportunities. He stated that in recent years the Government has realised that the only way for Gozo to move forward was through improved connectivity.

Camilleri stated that, “during this time we have invested heavily in accessibility, introduced the fourth Gozo ferry, introduced a second fibre optic cable to attract more companies that wanted to invest, especially in technology, and introduced the fast ferry service.” He described this service as a game changer not only for Gozitans working in Malta and for students, but also for tourists visiting Malta, to also visit Gozo. Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri expressed his satisfaction that, “for the first time we are once again attracting Gozitans to the island of Gozo and others who are seriously considering relocating to Gozo. Gozitans are not only living again at home with their families, but we are seriously addressing the brain drain”. Regarding development, he stated that it is crucial that Gozo does not lose its characteristics, echoing Minister Schembri’s call for sustainability across the Maltese islands.

The Minister also addressed Gozo’s low unemployment rate and increase in quality investment over to past years, looking to the future with hopes of further creating a sustainable economy for Malta’s sister island. With regards to the Malta-Gozo tunnel, Minister Camilleri reiterated that the topic has been discussed in depth and that having Gozo connected to the main island of Malta, along with the rest of Europe, is of great importance.

Camilleri also discussed Gozo’s increased flexibility via the  introduction of the fourth Gozo ferry, along with the installation of Gozo’s second fibre optic cable which the minister called a game-changer to attract more digital investors. He stated that investors would have been hesitant to invest in the island since damage to one fibre optic cable would put their businesses offline, making the second fibre optic cable a great move going forward.

Looking to the future, Minister Camilleri concluded by highlighting the sentence “everybody is against development if it is not his development”, going on to state that as a government, regulation of development needs to be maintained while still building on Gozo’s iconic streetscapes.

All stakeholders are encouraged to review the consultation document and submit their feedback by visiting https://economicvision.mimcol.com.mt/ which highlights the Ministry’s plans for economic growth through 5 pillars, including the one discussed on Wednesday.

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