Malta’s Financial Sector Urged To Help Finance The Country’s Next Chapter
Malta’s ability to finance the next stage of economic development will depend on how effectively it mobilises capital, enables innovation and strengthens its position as an international financial centre. This was one of the main outcomes from FinanceMalta’s 19th Annual Conference.
The two-day conference themed Financing the Next Generation Economy brought together policymakers, regulators, financial services professionals and international experts to examine how Malta’s financial ecosystem can support investment, business growth and emerging economic opportunities.
FinanceMalta Chairman George Vella stressed that the future of the sector would depend on its ability to look beyond regulation and compliance towards creating the conditions for new investment and economic activity.
“The future success of Malta’s financial services sector will depend not only on what we regulate but on what we enable. Financial services should not be viewed as an industry operating separately from the wider economy but as an enabler of business expansion, entrepreneurship, infrastructure investment and innovation. As such, the sector’s contribution should be measured not only by its direct economic value but also by what it allows other industries and businesses to achieve.”
In his keynote address, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana noted the financial services sector’s central role in Malta’s future roadmap Vision 2050 especially in terms of mobilising capital, supporting innovation and financing national priorities. He stressed the need to channel the country’s accumulated wealth into productive investment, strengthen competitiveness and improve productivity through long-term commitment and accountability.
Shadow Minister for Finance Adrian Delia likewise highlighted the potential for financial services to become an even greater driver of economic growth. While describing the industry as one of Malta’s most successful sectors, he stressed that its contribution should extend further into the domestic economy, helping Maltese businesses expand and entrepreneurs access the financing they need to grow without having to relocate.
A recurring message throughout the conference was that Malta’s competitiveness as an international financial centre is a shared national interest. The conference also examined how Malta’s financial services industry can support a range of emerging and established sectors, including gaming and digital platforms, fintech, tokenisation, digital assets, maritime and aviation finance, as well as opportunities in the developing space economy.
Dedicated discussions examined how distributed ledger technology, tokenisation and artificial intelligence could transform capital markets and financial services. Other topics included Malta’s potential to expand its transport finance proposition, digital resilience, crowdfunding, private equity, venture capital, occupational pensions, family offices and financing opportunities for the creative economy.
The European dimension was also explored, particularly the Capital Markets Union and Savings and Investment Union, alongside the importance of financial literacy in enabling individuals and businesses to benefit from these developments.
The conference also featured a special panel discussion that brought together the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council, the Malta Financial Services Authority, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration and the Malta Business Registry.
Addressing delegates at the end of the event, Finance Malta’s Bernice Buttigieg said the discussions had highlighted the importance of collaboration across Malta’s financial services ecosystem.
“The sector’s success should be measured not simply by the business it attracts, but by the quality and resilience of the economic activity it helps finance in line with our commitment to turn interest into relationships, relationships into opportunities and opportunities into long-term value for Malta.”
