Government has already invested about € 14 m Gozo – Gozo Minister

The Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo has said that during the first half of this legislature the Government has already invested about 14 million Euro in Gozo through infrastructure projects, and invested more than € 1.5 million promoting domestic and international tourism. This, he said, is apart from the € 14 million in EU funds for the Citadel project.

When addressing the Government activity ‘Listening To Gozo,’ held on Tuesday evening, Dr Refalo explained the difference between this administration and the previous Government. “In the last two years of the previous administration only about 6 km of roads in Gozo were improved through national funds. This aside from another 10 km of road from Qala up to Ta’ Cenc which forms part of a new project for water pipes, making a total of 16 km. Which on average was only 1.67 km per year, half of what is being carried out by this administration,” he said.

The Minister for Gozo said that the Government is committed to making all necessary investment in human capital, infrastructure and institutions to improve the potential of Gozo.

He reiterated in the previous five years of the last administration, the Gozitan economy grew by almost a percentage point less per year compared to the growth in Malta. In 2013 growth was better in Gozo than in Malta. During 2013, the gross domestic product grew by 4.8% in Gozo, against 4.6% registered in Malta. The Gozitan economy in 2013 increased threefold on 2012.

Minister Refalo said that the GDP increased by almost € 20 million from 2012 to 2013. It is estimated that during 2014, the Gozitan economy has grown by more than € 20 million. “Over two years, this Government has managed to boost wealth in Gozo by more than € 3,000 euros per employee or by more than € 1,300 per resident in Gozo.”

The Minister stressed that all this was not done by chance.” It is the fruit of a considerable number of initiatives and projects launched over the past two years, with the aim of Gozo reaching its full potential.

Minister Refalo mentioned the various projects and initiatives including the announcement of Barts Medical School in Gozo. “Investment, which will not only ensure that Gozo has a state of the art hospital, but will also have a profound positive impact on the long-term economic development of Gozo.”

He added that this follows on from another important agreement, that of the RS2 software firm, which is to start operating in the coming months. “These two, serve as a prime example of how productive investment can be attracted to Gozo. This investment generates wealth and employment in Gozo for Gozitans,” the Minister said.

“The Government also worked hard and actively to address the seasonality that always characterises Gozo. This is being addressed by enhancing physical accessibility.”

Regarding Gozo Channel, the Minister said that the company in May of this year increased its profit by € 105,000 from May 2014 to € 160,000 in May 2015, an increase of € 55,000 in just that month. Dr Refalo also said that the loss has decreased from € 715,000 to € 346,000.

“While in all five years of the previous administration there was an increase of 297 418 passengers that crossed between Malta and Gozo, during 2014 alone there was an increase of 247 936 passengers. This means that growth recorded in 2014 was almost equal to the entire growth that was in the last five years of the previous Government,” Dr Refalo said.

“Schemes launched by the Government in favour of tourism, meant that in 2014 Gozo Channel transported over 500,000 passengers more per year compared with 2012. There were also nearly 200,000 more cars. This led to a leap in the tourism industry each year, making it sustainable throughout the year, including in the winter months” the Minister said.

This has translated into the creation of more employment in Gozo for Gozitans. Dr Refalo said that over the last two years employment in Gozo increased by 700 new full-time jobs, as well as an increase in employment on a part time basis.

Anton Refalo mentioned that the majority of these jobs were made in the private sector, where among other things there was an increase of 60 full-time employment jobs in the field of manufacturing and construction, there were almost 100 in housing while more than 170 in the field of information, financial and professional services.

Refalo Minister referred to the Government’s commitment to continue the promotion of Gozo as a major tourist spot. He said that the VisitGozo website has been given a new look, and even received a quarter of a million euros from the European Union to promote Gozo as a distinct tourist product from Malta.

Dr Refalo also mentioned that in the coming days an international request for proposals will be issued for a swimming pool on Gozo. The process for the award of the first cruise liner terminal, is in its final stages, while technical studies are in full swing in preparation for a new fixed buoy in Xlendi.

The Minister spoke about the various infrastructure works being undertaken across the island.

“The efforts so far are already bearing fruit. Today everybody is seeing that the economic activity and stability is being felt by everyone. Once these ambitious projects reach completion in the near future, Gozo will begin to perform a crucial and important role.” stressed Minister Anton Refalo.

Photograph: George Scerri