{"id":1983,"date":"2025-11-07T23:16:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T22:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadergozo.eu\/?p=1983"},"modified":"2026-01-16T10:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T09:37:11","slug":"celebrating-gozos-rural-progress-with-leader-honouring-the-past-shaping-the-future-of-gozos-rural-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leadergozo.eu\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/celebrating-gozos-rural-progress-with-leader-honouring-the-past-shaping-the-future-of-gozos-rural-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Gozo’s Rural Progress with LEADER: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future of Gozo’s Rural Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gozo Action Group Foundation (GAGF) successfully hosted \u201cCelebrating Gozo\u2019s Rural Progress with LEADER<\/strong>\u201c<\/i> at the Grand Hotel, Gozo on 1st November 2025, bringing together community leaders, project beneficiaries, and policy makers to celebrate rural development initiatives across Gozo and Comino under the Rural Development Programme 2014\u20132022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The ceremony, showcasing project beneficiaries and fostering stakeholder engagement, commenced with addresses by the\u00a0GAGF Chairperson\u00a0Mr Joe Cordina,\u00a0the\u00a0Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights\u00a0Hon Anton Refalo, the\u00a0Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme\u00a0Hon Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, and the\u00a0Minister for Gozo and Planning\u00a0Hon Clint Camilleri. Their speeches underlined the importance of the LEADER approach in empowering local communities and fostering sustainable rural innovation.<\/p>\n

An audio-visual presentation<\/strong> reviewed the Rural Development Programme 2014\u20132022<\/strong> outlining key achievements in agri-business, tourism, culture, and environmental projects, followed by an introduction to the\u00a0Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CAP SP) 2023\u20132027,<\/b>\u00a0which promises new opportunities for local operators.<\/p>\n

One of the evening\u2019s highlights was the\u00a0LEADER Rural Excellence Awards<\/b>, honouring outstanding projects in several categories. The \u017bebbu\u0121 Local Council received the Community Impact Project Award\u00a0<\/i>for Gozo\u2026 The Destination of Tales and Trails while Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria\u2019s Il-\u0126a\u0121ar Museum was the winner of the Cultural Heritage & Promotion Award.<\/i>\u00a0The Voice for Inclusion Gozo Association took the honours in the Health & Well-Being category through their Talent Centre as the coveted prize in Innovation & Entrepreneurship was received by the G\u0127ajn Tuta Agri Tourism for their Eno-Gastronomic project. Beneficiaries from different sectors shared personal success stories, reflecting on how LEADER funding has transformed their communities and livelihoods.<\/p>\n

The event also featured the launch of a new GAGF publication<\/strong> showcasing Gozo\u2019s rural progress and success stories, highlighting projects funded under Measure 19.2 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme 2014\u20132022<\/strong> in Gozo<\/strong>. This can be downloaded on: https:\/\/leadergozo.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GAGF-Publication-Celebrating-Gozos-Rural-Progress-with-LEADER.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

The evening concluded with a networking dinner<\/strong> celebrating local cuisine and traditional Gozitan flavours, accompanied by live folk music and a strong sense of community spirit.<\/p>\n

The GAGF, established in 2008, is responsible for the implementation of the LEADER Programme in Gozo, bringing together Local Councils, NGOs, and the business community. Its mission is enshrined in its commitment to develop the rural localities within its territory to improve the quality of life and make this territory more prosperous. The Foundation continues to focus on rural innovation, environmental sustainability, and cultural heritage, ensuring that Gozo\u2019s future remains deeply rooted in its rural identity \u2013\u00a0\u201chonouring the past, shaping the future of Gozo\u2019s rural development\u201d<\/i>.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1154961011?fl=ip&fe=ec<\/a><\/p>\n