The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, has announced that the required permits in connection with berthing facilities for cruiseliners at Xlendi Bay have been issued by MEPA. This announcement was made during a visit near the site where the berth will be anchored. Minister Debono explained how the tourism industry on Gozo will be able to gain from the increase in cruiseliner business, which has become an integral part of the Maltese touristic market. Thus the whole island will be able to share in the economic benefit this brings to our country. This also represents the implementation of yet another measure which was promised in Government's electoral programme. The Minister stated that tourism is a strong pillar in our country's socio-economic development but this is especially ... Read more...

Malta Labour Party Leader Joseph Muscat visited Gozo yesterday, he was accompanied by the Party Spokesman for Gozo, Anton Refalo, and Family and Equality spokeswoman, Justyne Caruana. Addressing the Gozo Football Association and other Gozitan NGO's,the Labour Leader said that Gozo should benefit more from the country's EU membership. Dr Muscat added that the Malta Labour Party was committed to helping the associations. The GFA president, Alvin Grech, voiced his concern about the lack of sport facilities in Gozo when compared to Malta. He said that the association wanted to buy a piece of land near the stadium in order to turn it into training grounds for Gozitan clubs in order to improve the game in Gozo. The Gozo Chamber of Commerce and the Gozo Tourism Association ... Read more...

Provisional estimates show that when comparing May 2008 to the corresponding month last year, the industrial producer price index of the sampled enterprises edged up by 0.1 per cent. Monthly changes - In May 2008, compared with the previous month, producer prices in total industry increased by 4.2 per cent. Prices in the domestic market were unchanged for the Capital Goods sectors, Consumer Durables and Energy sectors whilst increases were registered for the Consumer Non-Durables and the Intermediate Goods sectors. Non-eurozone export prices were stable during the comparable months except for an increase in the Captial Goods and the Intermediate Goods sectors. Eurozone export prices principally registered increases in the Intermediate Goods sector whilst the principal increase in the Domestic market was in the Consumer Non-Durables ... Read more...

The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, together with Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Dr Joe Cassar distributed fresh fruit to children attending Skolsajf, Victoria Centre, Gozo, yesterday. The children received the fresh fruit as part of the activities in connection with Fruit Day, activities intended to promote healthy eating amongst children. The children had prepared a number of crafts projects, information and poems with fruit as a theme. Fresh fruit will continue to be distributed during August in an on-going attempt to raise consciousness amongst children and their families with regards to nutrition. The Parliamentary Secretary for Health said that the Health Department is concerned about the number of obese children and it is important that children get used to eating at least five fruits a ... Read more...

Further to the announcement on Tuesday the 22nd of July 2008, in connection with the issue of Government Stocks, The Accountant General has notified that the price for each Stock is as follows: 5.10% Malta Government Stock 2014 (III) - (Fungibility Issue) at ? 99.45 with a YTM of 5.21%, which corresponds to an annualised rate of 5.28%. 5.00% Malta Government Stock 2021 (I) - (Fungibility Issue) at ? 97.20 with a YTM of 5.30%, which corresponds to an annualised rate of 5.37%. The issue opens on Monday the 4th of August, 2008 and closes on the time and dates as hereunder, or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General: (i) at 5pm on Wednesday the 6th of August, 2008 for applications by any single ... Read more...

After registering continuous traffic growth for these last ten months, Air Malta said it is committed to develop further a sustainable all year round business not just to the airline but also to Maltese tourism industry. In order to ensure this sustainability the airline has taken decisions in redesigning its schedule network. It has eliminated routes that were being served by one or two flights a week and has shifted the seat capacity to destinations that could support 3 or more frequencies per week. As from this winter Air Malta will no longer operate directly to Glasgow but will support the destination through a new codeshare agreement that will increase the Glasgow operation from two flights a week to at least two flights a day. The codeshare agreement will also cover ... Read more...

Every purchase transaction effected by means of a BOV Cashlink Card between the 1st and the 31st of August will result in an automatic donation of 7? cent by Bank of Valletta in aid of 'The Malta Hospice Movement' thanks to a new campaign launched today. The Bank of Valletta 'Cashlink Cards for Charity' campaign 2008, was today launched by Mrs Mary Fenech Adami, Patron to the Malta Hospice Movement, during a media conference held at the Verdala Palace, Buskett. During the launch, Tonio Depasquale, Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Valletta explained that through this campaign BOV has the potential to raise thousands of Euros in aid of the Malta Hospice Movement. "Customers will not incur any additional costs since the contribution will be made by ... Read more...