PEVCA Malta Lays Foundation for Private Equity and Venture Capital Growth as Next Frontier in Financial Services

Private equity and venture capital are poised to become the next major pillar of Malta's financial services sector, according to Martin Galea, Chairperson of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PEVCA) Malta. The association was established just over a year ago to harness the sector's full potential as a catalyst for economic growth.

"When Malta was laying the groundwork for the financial services industry some 35 years ago, no one could have imagined it would become one of Malta's main economic pillars," Galea reflects. "The foundations we are laying in private equity and venture capital now are not so different. This is the beginning of an exciting journey."

PEVCA Malta has made significant strides since its establishment, attracting over 80 members from the financial services industry and local business community. The association has organised networking events, hosted a certified private equity masterclass, and undertaken a comprehensive 'state of play' report on the Maltese private equity and venture capital market due for publication shortly.

Private equity and venture capital are poised to become the next major pillar of Malta's financial services sector.

At its core, PEVCA's mission is connecting capital with opportunity whilst matching funding with expertise. "Private equity and venture capital don't just inject capital into businesses; they bring fresh ideas, new governance models and a more dynamic approach to growth," Galea explains, noting particular opportunities in Malta's family-owned business landscape.

The reception has been overwhelmingly positive. "Interest from service providers, law firms, accountants, corporate service providers and compliance specialists is on the rise. More importantly, larger Maltese companies are beginning to explore how private equity methodologies can help them scale and modernise," Galea states.

Looking ahead, PEVCA aims to position Malta as the leading hub for fund managers and family offices operating across Europe. "We already have a mature financial services industry, and private equity and venture capital can leverage many of the skills and resources that already exist locally," Galea notes. "We're not starting from scratch."

Malta's agility and regulatory responsiveness provide significant competitive advantages. "Our size allows us to remain nimble, flexible and capable of adapting quickly to new realities," Galea remarks, emphasising that transparency and good governance remain paramount.

These quotes originally appeared in Malta Invest 2026 when Martin Galea, Chairperson of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PEVCA) Malta sat down with Edward Bonello.