Gozo economic development 1964-1984

Abstract

Between 1964 and 1984 Malta went through major political and economic development. The local historiography has explored this seminal point of transition in an extensive way. After acquiring independence, and to ensure that this political achievement became sustainable, Malta had to undergo an economic transformation which would wean it off the British Services. The process of diversification was a long one and hampered by several obstacles. This said, independent Malta did manage to trudge on and establish pillars that were durable enough to sustain it in post-colonial times. However, this metanarrative does not necessarily fit the Gozitan case entirely. Geographically determined by its smaller size and limited resources, and historically constrained by being an extension of Malta, Gozo’s role (political and economic) has prevalently been secondary or even negligible at times. In the post-independence setting however, Gozo would acquire an element of political agency through the establishment of the Gozo Civic Council, and aspire for an economic transition that best addressed Gozitan realities and needs. Driven by the academic curiosity to find more about how and to what extent Gozo remained underdeveloped and dependent on Malta, I set out to undertake this qualitative and quantitative research. In this way, I also aim to close the gap in the local post-colonial historiography which is all too focused on the main island. While Gozo was, and still is, defined by what is decided from, and what happens in Malta, it nevertheless has its own story to tell. To this end, I chose to focus on the following themes. The first chapter supplies the backdrop and sets the context for the general economic and political developments of Malta between 1964 and 1984. The chapter homes in on a series of development plans by which Malta’s economy transformed from a Services-based one into an economy dependent on tourism, industrial, and to a lesser degree, agricultural development. This contextualisation is important not only to inform the reader of the bigger picture, but also to allow for a deeper understanding of how the Gozitan case compared with that of Malta. The chapters that follow are indeed structured along the economic sectors which characterised the economic transition. Chapter 2 deals with the agricultural sector by looking at the main agricultural activities, the number of people employed, the challenges faced and the extent to which the government committed to improve it. Chapter 3 follows with an analysis of the manufacturing sector which during this period was in its early phases of growth, especially with the establishment of the Xewkija Industrial Estate in 1971. The ‘industrialisation phase’ of Gozo presents interesting research areas into the main reasons why industrialists invested in Gozo, the type of firms that were set up, and the challenges that were faced. Finally, the last chapter undertakes an analysis of the tourist sector, with special reference to what was undertaken by the authorities to increase the number of tourists visiting Gozo and making it more attractive. Seen in light of each other, the respective studies of these sectors complete the picture of the type of development which Gozo experienced between 1964-1984.