12 Days of Christmas: Business News Malta’s Most Read Stories of 2025
- saskiavanvredenbur
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
As 2025 draws to a close, Business News Malta is celebrating the year's most compelling developments in Malta's business landscape with our "12 Days of Christmas" countdown. From groundbreaking investments and regulatory milestones to international recognition and strategic partnerships, these stories captured the attention of our readers and showcased Malta's dynamic evolution as a leading financial services hub and innovation centre.
Maltese startups received a €30 million boost through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Government of Malta launching the EIT Regional Innovation Booster pilot in 2026. The three-stage support programme helps early-stage ventures scale, internationalise, and secure investment. Malta retained fourth place in Europe for innovative startups according to the 2024 Startup Nations Standard Report. Malta's Startup Finance Scheme has approved 66 projects since 2020, mobilising €30 million and creating 145-plus jobs, whilst private investment gains momentum.
FinanceMalta Chairman George Vella discussed current developments in the capital markets sector in Malta. He highlighted the progress made to date with the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (MFSAC) introducing a series of initiatives to boost the sector. Vella explained that there are three magic words” in capital markets and these are, “speed, trust, and liquidity”, before going on to discuss how Malta is building all three pillars.
The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) convened a high-level public conference bringing together global regulators, policymakers, and market leaders to discuss the evolution of the financial services sector. Delivering the opening address, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Dr Ian Borg framed the conference as “empowering and forward-looking" while Finance Minister Clyde Caruana underscored the country’s strong economic performance. Closing the conference, MFSA CEO Kenneth Farrugia highlighted the importance of innovation and regulation moving forward together, saying “it is very important that they go hand-in-hand".
STMicroelectronics has confirmed the expansion of its Smart Factory in Malta, marking the largest single investment in the country's history. Announced during the Global Semiconductor Conference Malta 2025, the expansion highlights Malta's growing role in Europe's semiconductor ecosystem. Alongside the investment announcement, the President of Quality, Manufacturing and Technology at STMicroelectronics Fabio Gulandris, unveiled the company’s first humanoid robot for use at its Malta facility.
MFSAC Chair Joseph Zammit Tabona previewed sessions exploring Malta's family office framework, AI in Fintech Strategy, and aircraft leasing opportunities ahead of the FinanceMalta Conference. Malta is targeting the global family office market, which is growing from 8,000 to 11,000 offices managing USD 3.1-4.67 trillion, and expected to reach over 13,000 offices with USD 7+ trillion by 2035. The AI in Fintech Strategy ensures Malta actively facilitates responsible AI deployment through usable, trustworthy frameworks. Meanwhile, aircraft leasing targets a USD 213 billion market projected to reach USD 550-592 billion by 2035.
Qatar Airways' private jet division revealed that it will establish a European Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in Malta, after the company experienced a 26% revenue increase over the past twelve months. The strategic decision underscores Malta's growing appeal to global aviation companies who are seeking operational excellence and EU market access. This year, Malta has successfully attracted numerous international operators filing for AOC licenses with recent arrivals including Air Vitosha and PLAY Europe.
Private equity is emerging as Malta's next major financial services pillar, according to Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (PEVCA) Malta Chairperson Martin Galea. This follows Galea sitting down with Edward Bonella during Malta Invest 2026. The Chairperson argued that despite only being established just over a year ago, it has already attracted over 80 members and organised networking events, masterclasses, and published a ‘state of play’ report.
Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) has secured its authority to impose penalties on financial institutions following favourable constitutional court decisions that reversed earlier lower-court rulings. In an interview, FIAU Director Alfred Zammit explained that the rulings confirm that the organisation operates within constitutional boundaries and allows it to continue functioning under existing legislation.
In an interim report released in November, the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (MFSAC) reported that 66% of its strategic transformation projects are completed or underway since the 2023 launch. Of 76 strategic projects consolidated from 175 original initiatives, 29 have been successfully completed across five verticals: Banking & Payments, Capital Markets, Asset Management, Insurance & Pensions, and Fintech & AI.
Jesmond Gatt, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) Chairman, received the Insurance Federation of New York's (IFNY) Free Enterprise Award in November 2025. During his acceptance speech, Gatt outlined how financial services now account for 98.2% of Malta's inward foreign direct investment, with the country boasting a 70% growth rate since 2015 compared to the Eurozone's 13%.
2. CEO Malta of Blockchain.com Raises Industry Concerns About Centralising Cryptoasset Supervision With ESMA
In an exclusive opinion editorial, Fiorentina D’Amore, CEO Malta – Senior Director of Business Operations Europe at Blockchain.com, set out an industry argument against centralising the supervision of Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). She outlined how moving supervision away from national regulators runs the risk of stifling innovation, adding bureaucracy, and sacrificing the local expertise and rapport that has been built up since the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation was introduced.
Malta has positioned itself as an emerging Islamic finance player with the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) developing a dedicated Sukuk regulatory framework. It’s expected in Q1, 2026 and will include disclosure requirements for Shariah advisers, ensuring oversight and transparency whilst opening new opportunities for local entrepreneurs and international market participants seeking EU access.
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