Gozo Business Chamber at Insuleur Forum

The Gozo Business Chamber will be represented at the 10th Insuleur Forum taking place in Mallorca on June 10 and 11 by president Joe Grech and treasurer Anthony Bezzina.

The forum is organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Mallorca and by Insuleur, the Network of the Insular Chambers of the European Union. This year's topic is For A Europe Of Sustainable Islands: Businesses And Insular Development.

The Insuleur network organises yearly an international Forum to review the main subjects that affect the islands and the insular companies. This edition, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the network, will deal with sustainable development of the islands and will have an excellent panel of European experts, who will analyse the challenges that face the insular economies.

Islands have always evoked the image of a paradise, but today their green landscapes and the blue sea surrounding them are increasingly threatened. In their search to keep up a good standard of living for insular populations and to compete in a complex European and world economy, island economies often undergo sacrifices in their ecosystems, which are one of their best assets. The shortage of resources has significant repercussions for island economies.

Right now islands are also facing up to the challenge of sustainable development. What might the model of sustainability adapted to an island be? What kind of sustainable development should be got under way in a small insular area? What is the role of island companies in this process? What are the limitations and difficulties that an insular company has to face on the island during this process?

The 10th Insuleur Forum sets out to act as a centre for debate of these questions and of others with the representatives of 45 island chambers of commerce, representing local, national and European institutions, academic experts and European organisations defending insular territories. At the three panels and a political round table, the idea is to analyse the values and problems of sustainability on the islands, the integration of renewable energies and of an appropriate management of water and waste on the islands, as well as sustainable development as a reference framework for quality tourism.