My aspirations for 2026

Our last survey conducted jointly by the Gozo Business Chamber, and the Gozo Regional Development Authority in September 2025 reported overall positive business conditions for enterprises here in Gozo, with a positive outlook also for the coming period. 

This strong business sentiment is important to create the right climate where businesses can continue to grow and expand. I believe that the business potential here in Gozo is signficant especially in areas which were not previously considered.

The conditions are now mature for the diversification of the Gozitan economy, and its further internationalisation. The presence of the Queen Mary University of London Malta Campus in Gozo has shown that enterprises with a high value added have a place here on the island. The success of the medical sector shows us the way. The medical technology sector for example is an area which I believe can be successful in Gozo. Indeed there is the potential for a hub for this sector on the island. To this end it is important that the implementation of the Master Plan for the Gozo General Hospital continues at a steady pace.

Even green and clean technologies provide significant potential for the island. Gozo can indeed provide that platform for these technologies to be developed, tested and deployed here in Gozo. Even additive manufacturing through 3d printing technologies provides considerable potential for the island.

The Government has indeed invested significantly in Gozo in the past few years in the economic sector. Apart from the specific incentives for Gozitan based enterprises, all the incentives hold a higher aid intensity for Gozo. From an infrastructure point of view we have also seen the development of the Gozo Innovation Hub, and the second fibre optic link. The latter has provided the required redundancy that is much needed for technology companies to operate in Gozo. But what do we need to aspire to in 2026?

From a simplistic perspective we need to join the dots, with all sides working cohesively together to achieve common objectives: government, business, and civil society. From a strategic point of view Gozo needs to be seen as an investment priority area. All government entities working to promote enterprises here in Gozo need to come together cohesively, so that the positive benefits that are currently provided to businesses are tied to the strategic objectives we want for Gozo. 

In this sense the Gozo Regional Development Strategy needs to take centre stage. Even the infrastructure currently present, needs to be seen in this perspective. The Gozo Innovation Hub must not be seen simply from an infrastructural point of view but as a tool to achieve the strategic objectives of the island. To this end we should start lookind at a different governance model, where government and business work together to promote this important investment, which should be tied to a business plan, with agreed common aims. Also, its model needs to involve more the community, on the line of similar models which have been implemented successfully abroad.

Nonetheless, my main aspiration for 2026 is that together with all the parties concerned we start building a start-up eco-system in Gozo. While foreign direct investment is important we need to provide the right environment for our youth in Gozo to set up their own business, an environment which allows them to test, develop their ideas, and also allows them to make their own mistakes. 

The diversification of the Gozitan economy needs to start from giving a concrete chance to our youth here in Gozo, through a physical space dedicated to them but more so by creating the right environment, with the necessary tools, where they can thrive. Every year during our Youth4Entrepreneurship Gozo contest I see brilliant ideas being presented by our youth, all related to Gozo. We now need to assist them to bring these to fruition. The Youth4Entrepreneurship Gozo in this sense can provide the right platform where they can start.

Another concrete aspiration I have for 2026 is also that we continue to take concrete steps to help our businesses in their internationalisation efforts. Through our recent memorandum of understanding signed with the Australian Maltese Chamber of Commerce, I could see the untapped potential that Australia has especially with the many successful Gozitan business people in this country. There are ties which can further help Gozitan businesses to grow in these foreign markets. 

From a strategic perspective we need to see markets, which have so far been untapped, even in countries as the UK where our focus needs to move from the established cities such as London, to other regions in the UK which present considerable potential.

This however, must not in any way divert our attention from certain structural issues that we are facing in Gozo. In this sense we need to help our businesses especially, micro and small businesses to further strengthen their human resource function, and to help them deal with important issues such as how to manage an increasingly diverse workforce. The presence of non locals here in Gozo needs to be seen as an opportunity, where our community can continue to grow in a positive and enriching way. 

Gozo’s port infrastructure is also another importat issue where we can see major development in 2026. 

The task force announced by the Government has been an important development and our aspiration as a Chamber, is to see important steps being taken in this direction.

All in all, I believe that 2026 presents to us important challenges, but also opportunities. It all depends on our ability to work together, government, business and civil society in one direction, one that benefits the Gozitan community in a holistic manner.