Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541660
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 28 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS Family Business Office to host Family Business Forum Gozo 2025 FAMILY-OWNED businesses are the heartbeat of Malta and Gozo's economy, shaping com- munities, creating employment, and carrying forward legacies built over generations. Recognis- ing their crucial role, the Family Business Office (FBO) invites business owners, successors, and advisors to the Family Business Forum Gozo 2025, a landmark event designed to help family en- terprises strengthen governance, plan for succession, and unlock new opportunities for long-term growth. Taking place on Thursday, 27 November 2025, from 13:00 to 17:00 at the Gozo Innovation Hub, Xewkija, the Forum forms part of the national SME ini- tiative and will bring together Gozo's most enterprising family businesses with industry lead- ers and advisors, including Dr Joseph Gerada, Regulator of the Family Business Office, and representatives from the Gozo Business Chamber, Malta Enter- prise, Invest Gozo, and the Malta Chamber of Commerce. "Family businesses are the back- bone of Malta's economy, and we are here to support them," said Dr Joseph Gerada, Regulator of the Family Business Office. Reg- istering with the FBO is a strate- gic step, as it opens the door to guidance, targeted incentives, and a clear plan for sustainable succession. Registered family businesses in Malta benefit from a range of tar- geted support measures designed to strengthen their long-term sustainability and succession planning. These include an advi- sory grant of up to €20,000 to sup- port strategic development, gov- ernance, and succession-related consultancy, as well as a separate mediation support grant of up to €2,500 to assist with conflict res- olution and transition planning. Registered businesses also enjoy enhanced access to the Micro Invest scheme, which offers im- proved thresholds supportive of their needs. In addition, they may qualify for significant tax ben- efits, including reduced stamp duty on the transfer of shares or business interests between family members, and exemptions from capital gains tax, subject to appli- cable conditions. The Family Business Forum Gozo 2025 offers a hands-on environment where business owners and future successors can gain insights from peers who have successfully navigated the transition between genera- tions. The programme includes thought-leader discussions on governance and growth, real-life success stories from Gozitan family enterprises, interactive Q&A sessions with the Regulator and business leaders, and net- working opportunities over re- freshments. Attendees may also book a private one-to-one advi- sory meeting with the FBO 1 Press Release - Family Business Office - Family Business Forum Gozo 2025 team, including Dr Gerada, for personalised guidance on regis- tration, incentives, and strategic planning. Attendance is free, but places are limited. Early registration is strongly encouraged to secure participation. For family enter- prises, this is a rare opportunity to connect directly with deci- sion-makers, explore incentive schemes in depth, and gain tai- lored support to strengthen your business legacy. Whether you own, advise, or are preparing to inherit a family enterprise, this forum offers valuable insights, practical knowledge, and mean- ingful connections to help you grow with purpose. Register now at https:// f a m i l y b u s i n e s s . o r g . m t / e v e n t s / f a m i l y - b u s i n e s s - f o - rum-gozo-2025/ or call +356 2219 6167. To pre-book your one-to-one advisory meeting with Dr Joseph Gerada and the FBO team, email info.family- business@gov.mt. The Family Business Office, operating under the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, sup- ports Malta's family-run en- terprises through a dedicat- ed framework of incentives, financial tools, and advisory services designed to ensure competitiveness, continuity, and inter-generational suc- cess. Registering with the FBO is simple and provides endur- ing access to trusted guidance and resources that help family businesses grow with confi- dence. The Family Business Forum Gozo 2025, a landmark event is designed to help family enterprises strengthen governance, plan for succession, and unlock new opportunities for long-term growth