New authenticity certificates were handed out to arts and crafts shops and manufacturers in Gozo to establish the recognition and encourage the appreciation of the items produced.

At the launch of the project, Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea said that 30,000 authenticity certificates had been given to arts and crafts shops and manufacturers.

The project was carried out by the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry together with the Gozo Ministry. Some 768 people work in the arts and crafts industry in Gozo, as registered by the Malta Council for Arts and Crafts, and this number is constantly on the rise.

Over the last few years, around 320,000 authenticity certificates and 120,000 stickers were handed out, said Mr Galea. He added that for this initiative to reach its target, it must be used honestly and the ministry, which is responsible for market surveillance, will be making sure that the certificates are not abused.

The minister explained that there are items on the market bearing Maltese symbols that have been manufactured aboard. He pointed out that there was therefore a need for vigilance to ensure that these certificates are not to be attributed to items that had not been produced locally.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said that the arts and crafts sector holds great potential for the island?s economy, which is why the ministry is supporting the industry with the help of two projects.

She mentioned the 800,000 Euro investment to be made for an extension to the Wistin Camilleri Arts and Crafts Gozo Centre and the construction of an Arts and Crafts Incubation Centre in Gozo.

Mrs Debono added that the ministry has also introduced new courses at the Arts and Crafts Centre. These courses, which will begin in January 2007, will be free of charge. She concluded by saying that these two projects, together with the new authenticity certificates, will guarantee high quality products and will bolster the arts and crafts sector in Gozo.