Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul addressed the first meeting, in this legislature, of the Gozo Regional Committee of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
Minister Camilleri said that, through this committee, ideas were formed that were implemented and that had a positive impact on Gozo and Gozitans. He mentioned, among other things, the challenge of connectivity, stressing that the government remains committed to continuing to address it.
The Minister for Gozo also mentioned the social fabric, which is also undergoing changes in Gozo. He hoped that, through an open and constructive dialogue from which innovative ideas and solutions would emerge, the voice of Gozo would remain on the national agenda as it had been in recent years.
Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul confirmed that the government is keen to continue to diversify the Gozitan economy. “The fact that Gozo suffers from double insularity must be addressed through incentives, including a 40% subsidy for those who invest in Gozo, and also the fact that foreign professionals who will relocate to Gozo will be exempted from they pay a tax on the first € 30,000 of their income, which proposals are in the electoral manifesto, ”said Dr Ellul.
The Parliamentary Secretary stressed that the government is committed to ensuring that every opportunity emerges from every challenge. “Evidence of this is the fact that out of 1,000 proposals in the electoral manifesto, 350 of them concern Gozo,” said Dr Ellul. “However, there must be a will to succeed together. The fact that we are all gathered here today already means that there is enough willpower to see that we continue to work. Therefore, our job now is to continue the dialogue, and work for a better Gozo “, concluded Parliamentary Secretary Ellul.
