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Another series of courses and schemes held specifically in Gozo through a Ministry for Gozo project, involving 170 participants, and co-financed by the European Union, have come to an end.

The courses held focused on topics related to the tourism industry while the schemes were offered to several categories of workers and small businesses in Gozo. This was said by the Hon. Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, during the presentation of attendance and participation certificates to those who participated in the project, financed under Structural Funds Programme for Malta 2004-2006, specifically under the European Social Fund. This project, which was implemented by the Employment and Training Centre (Gozo), was launched in early 2005.

Minister Debono said that the one hundred and seventy persons who participated in this project have successfully benefited from the opportunities offered in Gozo after the Ministry for Gozo dedicated around €660,000 to the further development of human resources on the island. Minister Debono also said that in addition to these one hundred and seventy persons, a further one hundred and fifty already participated in other courses offered by the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Arts and Crafts and the University Gozo Centre, along with the three hundred persons currently participating in more courses co-funded by the European Union in Gozo. These educational opportunities are being offered in Gozo after the Ministry for Gozo identified several educational areas where training was offered free of charge to Gozitans over sixteen years of age.

Minister Debono said that the Ministry for Gozo believed in investing in improving the development of human resources in Gozo by providing as many training opportunities for adults as possible in Gozo. Minister Debono said that the three schemes introduced in Gozo were also successful after a number of Gozitans applied to participate in them.

The more popular scheme was the Graduate Scheme, aimed towards unemployed Gozitan graduates and small and medium-sized Gozitan enterprises. The other two schemes – one to improve the use of information technology in existing small and medium-sized businesses and the other to provide start-up assistance to unemployed who wish to set up their own business in Gozo – were also successful.

Minister Debono referred to this project as one in a series of other projects and initiatives aimed towards improving the competitiveness of Gozo and Gozitans. Minister Debono also referred to other projects currently underway in Gozo that will have an impact on the employment sector on the island, including the setting up of the tourism training facility in Qala and the Crafts Incubation Centre in Ghajnsielem.

Minister Debono also referred to the year ahead which is expected to involve several works on a number of projects in Gozo, in particularly in view of the allocation of a minimum of 10% of the funds that the European Union has allocated to Malta for 2007-2013, for the specific benefit of Gozo.