Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533530
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 21 MARCH 2025 NEWS AT a conference marking new synergies between the Ministry for Gozo and Planning and Mal- ta Enterprise's one-stop shop for enterprises, Business First, Prime Minister Robert Abela highlighted how such collabo- rations shall be a main building block for the Malta Vision 2050 and the future success of our country. Prime Minister Abela ex- plained how over €14 million were disbursed by Malta Enter- prise in support of Gozo com- panies in the last 2 years. Through the Micro Invest scheme, a total of €13 million was allocated between 2023 and 2024 to encourage investment and business expansion whilst the Gozo Transport Grant pro- vided €590,000 to facilitate con- nectivity and logistics. Additionally, €460,000 was distributed across various in- centives, including Allocation of Space, Business Start, Invest, Smart and Sustainable Scheme, and Rent Subsidy. "This success is the result of concerted ef- forts between Government and yourselves, our hard- working entrepreneurs and innovators," Prime Minister Abela stated. He spoke of how the introduc- tion of Vision 2050 aims to es- tablish a long-term roadmap for Malta's growth, integrating var- ious aspects of life and bringing together multiple Ministries and stakeholders. The newly signed MOU be- tween Business First and the Gozo Ministry aims to enhance collaboration and synergy, ul- timately benefiting the local economy and businesses. It will focus on training for staff, streamlining procedures for Gozo- based businesses, and promoting local crafts. Meanwhile when addressing the same event Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Stra- tegic Projects Silvio Schembri suggested that through collabo- ration between the two islands, we can continue to strengthen our country's economy, foster business growth, and attract investment on both islands, creating more high-paying jobs for our citizens here in Malta and Gozo. "This is the future we want to provide for our children, a future that reflects our vision for Malta and Gozo, where economic development is sustainable and ensures a higher quality of life for all," Minister Schembri said. Minister for Gozo and Plan- ning Clint Camilleri stated that this conference had three main objectives: to create a network- ing environment between Gov- ernment entities and the busi- ness community in Gozo, to provide more information on what the Government offers in terms of investment support, and to discuss specific challeng- es faced by businesses operating in Gozo. He also recalled that a year ago, the electronic platform branded InvestGozo was launched, al- lowing relevant investment-re- lated information about Gozo to be gathered in a single online site. This initiative was undertaken by the Directorate for Tourism and Economic Development within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning. €14 million support to Gozo companies in last 2 years Prime minister Robert Abela