We had the pleasure to video interview Ronald Sultana, the director for Tourism and Economic Development within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning about the InvestGozo initiative. The video is also available on YouTube.
InvestGozo is a new brand administered by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning. It follows the long-running Visit Gozo brand and was created to address a digital information gap on investment, lifestyle, education, and employment in Gozo. The platform brings these strands together and extends outreach through web and social channels.
The Ministry for Gozo and Planning is the only regional ministry in the Maltese Islands. While other ministries are thematic, this ministry serves a specific region and coordinates sub-themes relevant to Gozo’s development.
Ronald Sultana highlights two core advantages: size and lifestyle. Gozo offers an island setting with climate, coast, and nature that appeal to people and companies looking to relocate. According to Sultana, this demand is visible across conferences and in the rising number of international residents on the island.
Tourism remains a pillar, but policy and infrastructure investment aim to diversify the economy. “Gozo is now prepared” to attract the kind of projects the region is targeting. “It is time to reach a new level of international visibility.”
Sultana cites recent figures to illustrate traction: over the last six years, GDP growth reached 74 percent and employment increased by 48 percent. He frames this as evidence of investor trust and of an economic cycle moving Gozo toward a stronger position as a Mediterranean investment hub. “These are numbers that show trust in Gozo’s future.”
Businesses in Gozo can access both national and regional schemes. Everything available nationally applies regionally, with some measures positively weighted for Gozo. InvestGozo also runs exclusive schemes for companies that implement their business on the island, with a current focus on knowledge-based sectors:
Support includes generous salary reimbursements for a fixed three-year term to help employers recruit and retain talent. Sultana notes strong uptake and ongoing review to keep programs aligned with market trends. “We want to continue to evolve and learn.”
Tourism continues to evolve with higher-quality investments. In parallel, InvestGozo is steering growth toward the knowledge economy, supported by assets such as the Gozo Innovation Hub and national-regional synergies. The island’s talent base is a key driver; tertiary education outcomes indicate strong per-capita performance among Gozitan professionals. “Gozo is producing fantastic talent.”
Sultana does not frame barriers as fixed challenges. Instead, he describes a trajectory that requires presence, exposure, and continual evolution. The new brand and first-time collaboration with SiGMA are part of that push, generating momentum and international visibility. “It’s a process of constant adaptation.”
Sultana’s closing line is concise: “small is big”. A compact geography can unlock opportunity, lifestyle, and community. Feedback gathered during SiGMA’s affiliate and VIP programs reinforced this view, with strong responses to Gozo’s mix of nature, coastline, and the island good life. “Geography creates opportunity.”