The Gozo Business Chamber has held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Queen Mary University of London, Malta Campus, Victoria.
In his introductory remarks, Chief Executive Officer of the Gozo Business Chamber Daniel Borg, highlighted that it is important to “acknowledge the Chamber’s work, not only as a voice for Gozo at a national level, but also at an international level.”
He added that,”the Chamber has worked relentlessly on issues which affect islands at an international level. We are expanding into new areas of work. However, we need everyone’s efforts to sustain this work, and implement new initiatives.”
In his presentation, he outlined the Chamber’s work over the past year and its impetus on areas such as sustainable mobility, youth entrepreneurship, and ethics in business, and its work within INSULEUR (the Insular Chambers of Commerce of the European Union).
“Here the Chamber provided an important contribution in INSULEUR’s position paper on the impact of the proposed taxes on aviation and maritime fuel, on islands,” Borg said.
In his concluding remarks, Daniel Borg said that an “organisation needs a vision to move forward, and I believe that we are together building this vision. The Chamber needs to be capable to read the signs of the times, and adapt itself effectively to face today’s challenges.”
During each AGM the Chamber also presents a topic of interest to its members. This year Mario Borg, CEO of the Gozo Regional Development Authority, delivered a presentation about the Authority and its work. Interventions during this year’s AGM featured Dr Alex Borg, spokesman of the Opposition for Gozo, and the intervention be Clint Camilleri, Minister for Gozo.
In his speech Joseph Borg, President of the Gozo Business Chamber, highlighted the importance of the Queen Mary University of London, Malta Campus (which was hosting this year’s AGM), the success of the medical school, and the impact it has had on Gozo.
He remarked that “a new hospital is needed to complement the invaluable work being done by this university and that the privatisation of Gozo’s medical health care facilities should in no way hamper the development of the health sector in Gozo, which should be at the same level as that of the island of Malta.”
He also indicated that as a “Chamber of Commerce we are also interested in the quality of life of all those who work and reside in Gozo. Because it is the quality of life which generates more business and work in Gozo. As a Chamber of Commerce, we have emphasised that we cannot implement the same planning policies in both Malta and Gozo. Gozo has its own specificities and therefore the policies for Gozo need to be different.”
Borg pointed out that Gozo has great potential in the area of renewable energy. However, he stressed that “this needs to be complemented with a specific institute for research. Ultimately Gozo needs to diversify and transform its economy.” Nonetheless, he concluded, “this is not possible without the contribution of all the stakeholders.”