interview

  Although hit hard by the pandemic, Malta’s gross domestic product rebounded by 5.9 percent in 2021, higher than its strong growth rates in 2019 before the crisis. The latest projections by the Central Bank of Malta estimate year-on-year economic growth of 6.8 percent in 2022. Now, Malta is among only four EU countries with projected growth rates of above 1 percent in 2023. To begin the interview, could you tell us about Malta’s recovery following the pandemic? What sectors were...

  The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Enterprise has quite a large portfolio and a wide number of responsibilities, being simultaneously tasked with driving innovation and entrepreneurship in the country while achieving Malta's ambitious renewable energy and sustainability targets. You’ve been serving as minister since November 2020. To start this interview, could you give us a brief overview of your mandate and vision. How are you planning to marry economic and enterprise development with sustainability? Before becoming minister, I was a member...

  Malta has one of the oldest tourism industries in the world and was one of the first Mediterranean destinations to attract mass tourism. Today the industry is a vital pillar of the nation's economy, with a gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of around 15 percent. Could you give us an overview of the sector’s performance and the main highlights of the past year. What do you see as the current trends dominating the industry, and going forward what’s your outlook...

  Malta’s travel and tourism sector brings over $2.2 billion and made up around 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) pre-pandemic. Today tourism is rebounding quite nicely, with Malta hitting 2.3 million visitors in 2022, about 83 percent of its pre-pandemic total. How significant is cruise tourism to the country’s overall economy, and what economic impact has the return of cruises had on Malta? The cruise industry contributes with around $96 million to the tourism industry, which is a...

  Malta has sped forward in the last half decade on the digital innovation front, beginning with the launch of three bills in 2018 to set up the framework for new digital sectors, including the launch of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA). Since then, the country has actively promoted and funded its tech sectors, with the goal of becoming a digital hub for Europe and the world. Tell us about the growth of Malta’s digital tech sector. How has it...

  The Malta Business Registry (MBR) serves as the central authority responsible for the registration and regulation of business entities in Malta. It facilitates the incorporation, registration, and administration of companies, partnerships and other business structures. To start, could you provide an overview of the role, services and functions offered by the MBR? The MBR is the agency in charge of overseeing all the commercial entities, as well as all the foundations, associations and voluntary types of organizations in Malta. We are...