Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538719
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY 22 AUGUST 2025 • ISSUE 059 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY gozotoday €1.00 Variable interest rate of 2.80% * Low contribution Low collateral requirements *Business Lending Bank Base Rate presently at 2.15%, Interest Margin and EIF Guarantee Fee. The BOV SME Grow and the BOV SME Grow Green are funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund with the financial backing of the Republic of Malta under the InvestEU Member State Compartment for Malta. All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, il-Belt Valletta, VLT 1130. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licenced to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the laws of Malta). Grow green BOV SME Supporting Your Vision CONTACT US Gozo sees 7% rise in new residences in 2025 so far SEE PAGE 4 Second turtle nest of the season sees 65 turtles hatched THE second turtle nest of 2025, originally found on June 30 at Gozo's Ramla l-Ħam- ra, has fully hatched. The nest was excavated by the Environ- ment and Resources Authority (ERA), and Nature Trust Malta (NTM). In the second quarter of 2025, 415 new dwellings were approved in Gozo, contributing to a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. DURING the second quarter of 2025, Gozo experienced a notable uptick in residential construction activity, ac- cording to the National Statistics Office (NSO). Data from the NSO shows that 415 new dwellings were approved in Gozo in the second quarter, up from 350 in the first quarter. Together, this represents a 7% increase compared to the same peri- od in 2024, reflecting steady demand for residential properties on the island. The majority of these new dwellings were apartments, consistent with broad- er trends observed across the islands. Notably, the locality of Rabat accounted for 141 of the new dwellings, indicating a concentration of development in the capital. In terms of building permits, 68 were issued in the first quarter of 2025, fol- lowed by 104 in the second quarter, bringing the total to 172 permits issued so far this year in Gozo. LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt