Speaking about a permanent link and the fast ferry between Malta and Gozo, Prime Minister Robert Abela has said “this administration is committed to creating a permanent link between the two islands.”

The Prime Minister was talking at a business breakfast which was held in Gozo on Wednesday, where he also said that Gozo has the potential to be the centre of innovation and change in the country.

He went on to say that pending the completion of this permanent link project, the Government will “continue to do its utmost to reduce the problem of transport between the two islands, inter alia through the introduction of a fast ferry, where the Government will invest €5 million in maritime infrastructure and liberalise in the most transparent and complete way for interested operators to provide a direct passenger ferry service from June between Mgarr, Gozo and Valletta, with a journey time of 45 minutes.”

Referring to the theme of the environment, the Prime Minister said that in recent months an application has been made for the multi-million dollar project where, with the help of international companies, it is being explored to make Gozo an island where all energy will be carbon-neutral and to start exporting clean energy to Malta.

“With this ambitious project, our country will serve as a model for other European countries, because the Government is committed to being one of the first to embrace a broad environmental policy,” Abela said.

He also explained that a €4.5 million aid package for the agriculture industry had recently been approved by the Cabinet, details of which would be explained by the Agricultural Minister Anton Refalo in the coming days.

The Prime Minister went on to speak about agritourism, suggesting that Gozitan farmers could look towards this as an alternative activity within their business.

The Prime Minister said that “this is our vision for Gozo. An ambition that puts Gozo for the first time in the history of our Republic at the centre of change, and no longer on the periphery.” He concluded that, “it is a vision that requires major changes and hard work that together convinced that a sustainable model will be set in motion to build new prosperity for the nation that establishes itself as a centre of innovation and change in our country.”

Photo by Alain Salvary

Permalink: Government is committed to creating a permanent link – PM