From Notary J.L. Attard
Last January, for the first time, Gozo saw a disused factory in Xewkija being transformed into a high-tech service centre for HSBC, employing 50 full-timers and creating a new economic activity in this industrial area. The building was revamped in 15 weeks with an investment of €800,000. It will have an annual recurring operational cost of €1.2 million.
The main intention behind this investment was to create jobs for Gozitans in Gozo, many of whom have been transferred from branches in Malta to their home island. This has considerably reduced their daily travelling time and provided them with a better quality of life.
Apart from the call centres, Malta has seen the number of Internet gaming companies growing from around 85 to 200 in less then three years. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for one to open here in Gozo. The government declared before the last general election that it was drawing up plans to convert the Xewkija industrial park into a services hub, as well as creating a data centre to attract private companies, such as those involved in gaming, to set up their operations in Gozo.
Dr Austin GATT, the Minister responsible for investments, even declared: “We (the government) can transform Gozo into a services hub if people believe in it. We are happy HSBC has seen its potential and the next step is to entice Maltese private companies to think out of the box and shift certain operations here.”
In my opinion, the government must start revealing in more detail its long-term plans for Gozo in this area. Employment is one of the most problematic issues in our island. In the previous years job creation in Gozo has been minimal. After the closing of the main textile factories there has been no replacement and there has been no economic transformation as has happened in Malta. Our sister island has seen a regeneration of the economy as it moved from one based on manufacturing to one based on services.
The Internet gaming industry could employ many of Gozo’s young generation who are either unemployed or else travel daily to Malta for work. It would not make much difference to the companies involved if they operate from Gozo or from Malta. What they need is some incentives from the Government and a qualified workforce. The latter can be achieved through specialised courses that can be run either by the ETC or by the University of Malta, depending on the level of knowledge required by these companies.
The saying goes that where there’s a will, there’s a way. In Gozo, as in Malta, the only things we have are human resources. If we train people, the Internet gaming companies will also come to Gozo and a clear political vision from those who are responsible for the administration of the island will surely help.
Joseph L. Attard
XAGHRA