Launch of this year National Productivity Report

This year’s National Productivity report recommended that a dedicated research center should be established in Gozo. Gozo has the potential of becoming a living testing hub for new technologies including drones, agri-tech and relating to smart buildings and mobility .

Also, it was recommended that the Ministry for Gozo shall upgrade the testing and laboratory facilities at the Government Experimental Farm at Xewkija. These facilities will be designated to assist in food tracing as well as quality protocols.

Going digital is key to Gozo’s economic transformation. As proposed by the Gozo Regional Development Authority, there should be the development of a ‘digital and innovative ecosystem’ on the island to drive economic growth and productivity. This is presented as a potential game-changer in closing the development gap between Malta and Gozo through the creation of higher value-added activities.

Positive developments have been made, with the development of the Gozo Innovation Hub, which seeks to promote clusters in the ICT and other knowledge intensive services sector being one of them. Similar projects are to be encouraged which focus more on the effective collaboration between sectors, for the development of transversal knowhow.