The Authority
The Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) was officially launched on the 14th of September 2020. It has as its legal basis Chapter 600 of the Maltese Laws.
The Authority has a regulatory and consultative role and addresses an important gap in the socio-economic development of Gozo by developing and streamlining regional policies and by overseeing their implementation through the adoption of modern project management tools.
Key Goals

Regional Policies
Formulate and propose policies to socio-economic development of Gozo.

Consultation
Consult with the Government, private sector, constituted bodies, non-governmental organisation and the general public.

Implementation
Managing and overseeing the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy.

Regional Impact
Steward regional impact assessment studies on national proposals considered to have a material impact on Gozo.
The Board
– Abraham Said has been operating in the wholesale and agrotourism industry for over 30 years. During that time, he launched innovative products focusing on gourmet food with a strong emphasis on using traditional Gozitan products. Among the brands he developed are ‘Vini e Capricci’ and ‘Ogygia’.
– Marica Sultana obtained her first degree in education from the University of Malta. She also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Sheffield. A teacher by profession, Ms Sultana has taught in various state schools and has been involved in the setting up and implementation of educational programs aimed at promoting equal opportunities for all. She is also involved in the organisation of cultural events in Gozo and in voluntary initiatives within the local community. Currently, she is reading for a master’s degree in applied leadership and conducting research related to distributed leadership practices in the local workplace.
– Mr Michael Grech has been involved in the financial services for more than four decades, having started his career at the Mid-Med Bank Ltd. He eventually set his own private company. He is currently a Director on the Board of Malta Enterprise, Director on the Board of Jobs Plus, Member of the Supervisory Council of the Malta Community Chest Fund, and Chairman of the Victoria Scout Group. In the past years he also occupied the role of President of the Gozo Business Chamber (4 years), Chairman of the Gozo Regional Committee (4 years), Member of MCESD (4 years) and Senior Vice President on the board of INSULEUR (the Association of Chamber of Commerce of Island Regions of the EU) (2 years)
– Charlene Xerri Gatt studied and gained a First Class Honours in Criminology at the University of Malta in 2008. She is a real estate profession, having worked with renowned companies since 2008 where she had received multiple prestigious awards in recognition of her efforts. Nowadays, she leads, motivates and trains her team to assist clients with the utmost professionalism in every detail of the transaction.
– Mario Borg holds a first degree in economics and a master’s degree in small island states from the University of Malta and a master’s degree in public economics from the University of York, UK. He spent over 10 years at the Economic Policy Department within the Minister for Finance working mainly in economic forecasting, policy analysis and policy design. He subsequently was appointed a Director of economic and business statistics at the National Statistics Office (NSO). During the past years, Mr Borg formed part of the Government of Malta National Blockchain Taskforce (2017-2018) and the Board of Governors of the MFSA (2017-2020). Before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer at the Gozo Regional Development Authority, he worked as a Consultant at MIMCOL.
– Dr Samuel Azzopardi is a lawyer by profession specialising in financial services. He is currently President of Reġjun Għawdex (www.regjunghawdex.com) as well as a member in the Committee of Regions (www.cor.europa.eu) and serves as political coordinator in the European People’s Party in the NAT commission withing the Committee of Regions. Dr Azzopardi is also vice-President of the Local Council Association and President of the Gozo Football Association (www.gozofa.com).
– After reading Philosophy in Rome in 1984, Mr Borg joined the family business in the same year, the FXB Group of Companies, which specializes in the manufacturing and retailing of furniture both locally and abroad. The Group has also ventured in the field of renewable energy and prides itself in research and development in this sector.Mr Borg served as a director on the board of the Malta Development Corporation from 1989 to 1992. He was involved in the Gozo Committee of the Malta Federation of Industries, from 1988 to 1993 as its secretary, and Chairman from 1992. Mr Borg has also been a director of Bank of Valletta plc from 1999 up to 2015. He was also chairman of Gozo Channel Co. Ltd. from 2005 to 2008. After serving a council member and secretary since the foundation of the Gozo Business Chamber in 1999, he was again elected to the Council of the Gozo Business Chamber in 2010 and since 2012 he was Vice-President of the same Chamber until he became President in September 2018. Since December 2018 he is also President of INSULEUR (The Network of Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the EU).
– Anthony Bezzina worked for 43 years in the banking industry (Mid-Med Bank 1975-1998 and Lombard Bank 1998-2017). He occupied various managerial posts and sat on various committees within the bank. In his last six years of his banking career was the Chief Officer for the Lombard’s affairs in Gozo. In 1981 he was elected as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of London. From 1988 to 2001 he was a part-time lecturer on banking at Sir Michelangelo Refalo Sixth Form School. Since 2018, Mr Bezzina was appointed as a non-executive director with Michael Grech Financial Investment Services. During the same year, he joined the Gozo Curia where he occupies the post of Office Manager. Mr Bezzina is a member on various councils/committees including The Friends of the Sick and Elderly in Gozo, The Gozo Business Chamber, Kummissjoni Djocesana Familja, The Institute of Pastoral Ministry and Fundazzjoni Il-Hajja f’Ghawdex.
What We Do
Formulating Policies
Formulating policies to socio-economic development of Gozo and ensuring that Gozo’s significant economic, social and environment characteristics are factored in any national strategy and policy design.
Implementation
Publish, managing and oversee the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy either by taking direct ownership of measures or by means of performance agreements with other government departments and entities assigned responsibility for their implementation.
Overseeing
Stewarding regional impact assessment studies on any national proposals considered to have a material impact on Gozo.