Reactions of the Gozo Business Chamber to the 2020 Budget

The Gozo Business Chamber welcomes the fact that government recognises the important role of the private sector and that Gozo is now considered an important contributor to the national economy.

On a national level the Chamber notes with satisfaction the: • Continuation for another year of the reduced stamp duty on the transfer of businesses; • Incentives for people to continue working beyond retirement age. In that way their important and positive contribution to the labour market is not lost. • Sustainability measures. This applies to measures such as for example those related to electric vehicles and the management of water resources. The Gozo Business Chamber believes in the sustainability of the island of Gozo. One of its proposals was the formulation of a sustainable development plan for the island.

• It is important to note that the reduced stamp duty on the acquisition of property in Gozo, as proposed by the Gozo Business Chamber, will continue. • The Chamber also notes that some of its proposed measures such as the strategic investment on the University of Malta Gozo Centre should still be included for further consideration. On the economic front the Cham

ber also welcomes the: • continuation of the Gozo

Employment scheme and the Film Fund for the production of films in Gozo.

• the creation of a regional authority for Gozo to cater for its development needs, though the Chamber believes in this case, that there needs to be Gozo-based agencies for important sectors such as culture and the economy.

• need to continue to seek new niches for Gozo. In this area the Chamber welcomes the scheme to attract conferences in Gozo. • the Gozo Business Scheme, which will see an improvement in the tax credit for start-ups in Gozo, as well as incentives for companies to relocate to Gozo. • the opening of the Research Innovation Hub and the Barts Medical School.

• the completion of the project for an area dedicated to SMEs. Accessibility was also another focal point of this Budget. The Chamber positively notes that the fourth ferry, which was introduced on a temporary basis, will now operate on a permanent basis. Moreover, the work on the fast ferry and the fibre optic cable will continue. As regards sea transport the Chamber believes that more dedicated services for commercial vehicles should be considered.

The Chamber notes that there is a clear plan for the completion of the subsea tunnel between Gozo and Malta. The Chamber believes that this project should continue in earnest.