The Gozo Business Chamber in a statement on Thursday, said that it is “fundamentally not aligned” to the recommendation by the Malta Chamber of Commerce for the Government to “reconsider the investment in the tunnel between Malta and Gozo.”

The GBC was reacting to yesterday’s 2020 – 2025 Vision Document published by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, which it said that it welcomed and endorsed a number of the recommendations

The GBC however reiterated, what it described as, ” the fundamental need for more efficient, reliable and cost-effective transportation between Malta and Gozo, with the smaller island being home to 6% of the population and 5% of economic activity.”

The Chamber argued that, “Gozo is falling short from optimising its contribution to the Maltese economy in good part because of connectivity barriers, with the time required to reach centres of major activity being 4 to 5 times longer than those in Malta, and the virtual complete dependence on an ageing vessel fleet.”

The GBC emphasised that the tunnel between the two islands” has the potential to provide the most cost-effective connectivity option.”

It stressed that, “the tunnel project is a complement, not a competitor, to the implementation of multi-modal transport systems on a national scale. It would be expected to serve as the backbone of a network comprising public and shared vehicle transportation, and water and air connectivity.”

“The tunnel project would deliver an effective link between the two islands within a reasonable period in the future, as opposed to often-mooted rail alternatives which would take decades to implement at multiples of the cost,” the Chamber said.

The GBC concluded by saying that it “looks forward to the delivery of this project with an overall policy framework leading to a distinctive economic model for Gozo based on its ecological and sustainable development potential, permeating activities ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, tourism and new economy services, and where the younger population can effectively meet its lifestyle and career aspirations.”

Photo by Alain Salvary

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