The Gozo Business Chamber and its Gozo-Malta Permanent Link Committee said that it welcomes the Goverment’s announcement that it “will abide by its electoral commitments towards making Gozo more accessible.”

“It is positive that a Chinese state-owned company will be studying to assess the feasibility of a bridge between Malta and Gozo as much as the continuation of a feasibility study, partially financed by the EU, to assess a potential tunnel link,” the GBC said. “It is imperative that Government will be looking at all options to improve connectivity between the two islands, including an air link.”

The Gozo Business Chamber said that it believes that a permanent link between the islands of Gozo and Malta will tackle the shortcomings of the economy of Gozo. “Whilst it is recognised that per capita output and income in Gozo is lower than that of the main island, it is accepted that the elimination of double insularity will address this predicament and ensure that Gozo contributes to and would benefit from national economic growth in a proportionate manner.”

The GBC pointed out that “the character of an island is the product of the character of its people. The mass exodus from Gozo of our youth is changing the physiognomy of the island, contributing in no small way to increase the already large stock of empty dwellings that abound around us. A permanent link will not only reverse this trend, but will also encourage present weekend visitors to set up permanently on the island.”

“Experiences of permanent links of similar islands have led to the generation of new business and the creation of new initiatives in the smaller communities. The permanent link has also induced people originating in the island/small community to continue to permanently live in the island or return back.”

“The Gozo Business Chamber augurs that Government will lead these initiatives to fruition,” the statement concluded.

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