FinanceMalta CSO Bernice Buttigieg: “We are hyper-focused on building global awareness about Malta as an international finance centre”

Having been part of FinanceMalta since its earliest days, Chief Strategy Officer Bernice Buttigieg has had a front-row seat to the evolution of Malta’s financial services sector. From its beginnings as a nimble, niche-focused jurisdiction to its growing confidence on the global stage, FinanceMalta’s journey mirrors Malta’s own economic transformation. 

1. You've been with FinanceMalta since 2008, just a year after its inception. How has your role evolved over nearly two decades?"

I joined FinanceMalta as Head of Administration back in 2008, just as Malta entered the Eurozone at a critical time for the financial services (FS) sector. Over the years, I've had the privilege of witnessing the sector's transformation first hand. In 2019, I moved into the role of Head of Technical and Legal, and in 2023 I was appointed Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Secretary to the Board. Moving from administration to technical and legal work, and now to strategy, has given me a comprehensive view of how FinanceMalta operates at every level, from day-to-day operations to shaping Malta's position on the global stage.

More broadly, our strategy has changed. In the early days of FinanceMalta, we capitalised on Malta’s small size, illustrating how it made our financial regulator more agile and in turn allowed us to target niche industries. As Malta’s FS sector has matured, our strategy for encouraging international investment has become more ambitious and comprehensive. While we continue to carve out niche industries where we can make a name for ourselves, FinanceMalta is also more confident in targeting mainstream sectors like insurance, capital markets and wealth management. Overall, having this two-pronged approach will ensure Malta is seen globally as a competitive international hub.

2. What are FinanceMalta's key objectives, and how do you differentiate Malta as a financial centre?

FinanceMalta is a public-private initiative set up to promote Malta as an international financial centre. We bring together and harness the resources of both the industry and government to ensure Malta maintains an environment in which the financial services sector can continue to grow.  

In some ways, we have already achieved a great deal of our objectives. The FS sector is now considered a major force in the country’s economy, accounting for 8.2% of the total real GVA. To account for this growth, the workforce has also expanded and is now 21.6% bigger than it was in 2020. The success of the FS sector is not an anomaly but rather symptomatic of the broader economic reality here in Malta. We are proud that the country has the highest economic growth in the EU and is set to remain in this pole position for a further five years.

However, we remain ambitious about future growth for both the FS sector and the Maltese economy. To do this, FinanceMalta is hyper-focused on building global awareness about the country as an international finance centre. We want our stakeholders to think of Malta as an innovative financial hub that encourages collaboration between the regulator, government, and private sector. To help achieve this goal, we ensure that FinanceMalta’s members are at the forefront whenever we are doing any form of external engagement or advocacy.

3. You've described 2025 as a year dedicated to raising the jurisdiction's visibility. What did that involve?

It was an intensive but productive year. In 2025, we attended around 50 overseas events, enabling us to push ahead with the global promotion of Malta as a financial service centre. Since the pandemic, we have really ramped up our event participation and networking so that we can build strong relationships and further encourage international investment.

4. What can we expect from FinanceMalta in 2026?

In 2026, FinanceMalta will deliver a focused and high‑impact programme centred on strengthening the domestic financial ecosystem, elevating Malta’s presence in priority international markets, and supporting industry stakeholders through targeted sector‑specific initiatives. Rather than spreading resources thinly across a wide range of activities, we are concentrating on meaningful local engagements, curated investor and stakeholder visits, selective participation in strategic international fora, and technical updates across key verticals such as fintech, funds, insurance, wealth management, sustainable finance, and aviation finance. This is complemented by enhanced collaboration with national institutions, deeper alignment with the refreshed MFSAC strategy, and a more sophisticated use of digital tools, data, and AI to extend our reach. Overall, our 2026 agenda is designed to prioritise quality over quantity, strengthen Malta’s positioning, and ensure that we continue enabling our members to operate successfully both at home and abroad.

To name a few, the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Extraordinary General Meeting will take place in Malta on 3rd and 4th March. This is a significant honour for Malta to host and will bring together leading financial stakeholders from around the world. It’s also a personal highlight given that I am a member of the WAIFC Board.

Our  19th Annual Conference in November will be another flagship event bringing together C-level executives, European policymakers, and regulators.