According to Camenzuli, the scale of adoption places GO among the more advanced AI users in Malta’s business landscape. From an AI-powered customer chatbot that autonomously resolves the majority of digital customer interactions, to an internal platform enabling employees to build their own AI agents, the company’s approach is focused on practical applications that deliver measurable results.

“For many companies, AI might still be at conversation level but at GO, it has become part of how the business operates every day,” says Camenzuli, who has been leading the company’s digital transformation since 2018.

He explains that GO’s strategy is built around two complementary pillars.

“The first is customer-facing AI, centred around GO’s next-generation chatbot. The second is IntelliAsk, the company’s internal AI platform designed to give employees secure access to advanced AI capabilities while protecting company knowledge and data.”

GO’s customer chatbot, launched in 2024, marked a major shift away from traditional automated support tools.

Rather than forcing customers through predefined menus, the conversational system allows them to explain their issue in their own words and receive a response tailored to their specific circumstances. The technology is integrated across WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and GO’s website chat channels, creating a consistent customer experience regardless of where a conversation begins.

“The difference is not simply that the chatbot can answer questions. It can take action,” says Camenzuli, explaining that when a customer reports broadband issues, the system can run diagnostics, identify potential faults and automatically create a service request where required. It can also check account information, billing details, roaming settings, service status and appointment details, providing customers with immediate answers without requiring human intervention.

“Our objective was never to remove human interaction from customer service but to use AI to remove repetitive processes and free up employees to focus on more complex customer needs,” he explains.

“When a conversation does require human support, the chatbot hands it over together with an AI-generated summary, so customers do not have to repeat their story and agents have immediate context,” he adds.

Behind the scenes, GO has also invested heavily in ensuring that its AI systems continuously improve. Customer conversations are analysed to identify missed opportunities, recurring issues and areas where the experience can be improved.

“AI does not make the customer experience perfect,” Camenzuli is careful to note. “What it does is facilitate the journey. We are on a continuous journey of improvement, and our goal is to keep delivering a consistently good experience for our customers.”

That same focus on continuous improvement carries through internally, via IntelliAsk, GO’s secure AI platform available to employees across the Group.

Rather than simply purchasing individual AI subscriptions, GO created its own environment where employees can access multiple AI models, interact with company information securely and build reusable AI solutions.

“The reasoning is strategic. AI capability becomes an organisational asset rather than something tied to individual employees which means that when someone creates a useful AI workflow, that knowledge stays within GO and becomes part of the company’s collective intelligence,” explains Camenzuli.

That approach has already generated strong employee engagement. GO staff have created hundreds of AI agents through IntelliAsk, with a growing number curated and made available through an internal marketplace.

The applications range from technical operations to everyday business processes, with teams across areas such as network operations, security and project management building agents that support tasks including log analysis, alert processing, documentation and delivery.

Importantly, the adoption has not been limited to technology specialists. Employees across departments including retail, facilities, HR, legal and sales are finding ways to use AI to improve their own workflows.

One of the clearest impacts of this approach is that AI is transforming employees from users of technology into creators of solutions.

Beyond customer care and employee productivity, AI is already delivering measurable operational improvements across the organisation. Contract management processes are being automated through AI extraction of key information from agreements, finance teams are using AI to process documents that once required manual input, and network teams are cutting the time spent on complex technical tasks.

“Software development processes that once took days can now be completed in minutes,” he added. Camenzuli stresses that for a telecommunications company, however, innovation must be balanced with responsibility.

“GO has placed security, privacy and governance at the centre of its AI approach,” he says. “Data remains within trusted infrastructure, user permissions are respected, and AI interactions are monitored.”

“In fact, our ambition is not to create a business operated by machines but to see AI as a tool that allows people to work smarter and make better decisions. This is why internally, we apply GO’s ‘Getting better every day’. It’s a principle that reflects our broader transformation journey,” concluded Camenzuli.

It is a philosophy that ties back to GO’s wider purpose: to drive a digital Malta, where no one is left behind.

The post ‘AI at GO isn’t a pilot anymore. It’s how the company runs’ first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Malta’s logistics operators and consumers are already experiencing the economic impact of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). The result is straightforward: higher transport costs that ultimately increase the price of almost everything imported into Malta. By 2028, a second carbon pricing mechanism, ETS2, will add further pressure, risking the affordability of Malta’s essential connectivity with Europe.

The results of this new regulation, over and above ETS, carry the very serious risk of Malta’s connectivity to Europe, our lifeline, becoming unaffordable.

No one disputes the importance of Europe’s transition to a lower-carbon future. Reducing emissions and promoting more sustainable transport are necessary objectives. However, climate policy must recognise that not all member states face the same realities. For Malta, geography is not a minor consideration but a permanent economic constraint.

As an island nation state, Malta depends entirely on reliable sea links to mainland Europe. Every day, food, medicines, construction materials, industrial supplies and consumer goods arrive through these maritime connections. Unlike continental countries, Malta has no road or rail alternatives. Sea transport is not a choice; it is our economic lifeline.

Before introducing another major carbon pricing mechanism through ETS2, the European Union must fully acknowledge the pressures Malta’s international transport sector is already facing.

Maltese international trailer operators have no option but to rely on maritime services to reach European markets. A typical return journey between Malta and Genoa covers around 1,400 nautical miles, creating a structural disadvantage that mainland competitors do not face. Yet these operators sustain Malta’s connectivity by generating the freight volumes that support six weekly Ro-Ro services linking Malta with Europe.

The sector is already under considerable strain. Current ETS measures add approximately €1,000 to the cost of each round-trip trailer. These costs cannot simply be absorbed by operators and are ultimately passed on to Maltese businesses and consumers.

At the same time, operators purchase around 90% of their diesel in Europe, where prices average approximately €2.50 per litre. They also face rising port charges, terminal fees and road tolls across the continent. Together, these increasing costs are placing Malta’s transport sector under growing competitive pressure.

This is why European policy must reflect the realities of island member states. While mainland operators can benefit from road-only routes, rail alternatives and shorter supply chains, Malta has none of these advantages. A one-size-fits-all approach risks placing a disproportionate burden on economies that depend entirely on maritime connectivity.

The ongoing review of the EU ETS framework offers an opportunity to recognise these structural differences. Maltese transport operators are fundamentally different from their continental counterparts because their business model depends entirely on sea transport. Future legislation should reflect this reality.

The challenge will become even greater when ETS2 is introduced in 2028. Designed to extend carbon pricing to road transport and buildings, ETS2 aims to accelerate decarbonisation by increasing the cost of fossil fuels. While the objective is understandable, its impact on island economies requires careful consideration.

Current European assessments suggest ETS2 could increase diesel prices by around €0.13 per litre under moderate carbon price assumptions, with higher scenarios reaching between €0.30 and €0.50 per litre by 2030. For Maltese operators already paying around €2.50 per litre, this represents an additional increase of between 5% and 20%.

The consequences extend well beyond the transport sector. Higher freight costs inevitably explain the higher prices for essential goods, increasing costs for businesses and households alike. ETS2 therefore extends beyond the transport sector, becoming a broader issue with implications for national competitiveness, affordability, and economic resilience.

ATTO believes that sustainability and competitiveness must go hand in hand. Malta’s transport sector is committed to supporting Europe’s climate objectives, but operators need realistic pathways, targeted investment and policies that recognise the realities of operating from an island state.

If ETS-related revenues are collected, a meaningful share should be reinvested in practical decarbonisation measures, including cleaner vehicle technologies, alternative fuel infrastructure and financial support for operators modernising their fleets. The transition must be supported by investment, not regulation alone.

This is an issue that requires national unity. The government, the Opposition, relevant ministries, Malta’s members of the European Parliament and all stakeholders must work together to ensure Malta’s unique circumstances are recognised at European level.

The question is not whether Malta should participate in the green transition. It should and it will. The real question is whether Europe can achieve its climate ambitions while safeguarding the competitiveness of island economies, protecting the affordability of essential goods and preserving the connectivity on which Malta depends.

Climate action must remain ambitious, but it must also be practical, balanced and fair.

Joseph Bugeja is the chairman of ATTO

The post ETS and ETS 2 threatens to make Malta’s connectivity to Europe unaffordable first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The MSE Equity Total Return Index (MSE) closed the month higher by 0.8%, to settle at 9,988.394 points. A total of 30 equities were active, as nine advanced and 18 declined. Total monthly turnover reached €5.4m, generated across 884 transactions. Since the beginning of the year the MSE is up by 12.2%.

The MSE Corporate Bonds Total Return Index closed 0.9% higher, as it reached 1,164.118 points. Out of 110 active issues, 71 headed north, while another 26 closed in the opposite direction. The 4% Stivala Group Finance plc Secured € 2027 recorded the best performance, up by 3.1%, to close at €99. Conversely, the 4% Shoreline Mall plc Secured € 2026 closed 28.2% lower at €70.

The MSE MGS Total Return Index declined by 0.3%, closing at 967.606 points. Out of 40 active issues, nine traded higher while another 31 declined. The 1.4% MGS 2046 headed the list of gainers, as it closed 2.1% higher at €60.64. On the other hand, the 1.8% MGS 2051 closed 3.4% lower at €59.63.

Top 10 Market Movers

Bank of Valletta plc posted a 4.3% monthly gain, settling at its monthly high of €2.17 after dipping to a low of €2.07 during the period. The banking equity was the most liquid of the month, with 1,149,508 shares crossing the market across 222 transactions, generating €2.4m in turnover.

APS Bank plc closed higher for the fourth consecutive month. The banking equity gained 1.8% to finish at €0.58, climbing off a monthly low of €0.55. A total of 290,814 shares were dealt across 86 transactions, with €166,566 recorded in turnover.

Having declined 13.5%, FIMBank plc ended the month at its low of $0.16. The USD-denominated equity saw 172,193 shares dealt across 15 transactions, with $25,130 changing hands.

Having now registered losses in three consecutive months, Lombard Bank Malta plc dropped a further 5.6%, closing at €0.68 after ranging between a low of €0.655 and a high of €0.73. A total of 21 transactions of 59,657 shares were executed.

International Hotel Investments plc closed the month on a high, as the equity of the hotels’ operator rallied 7.3% to close at €0.585, recovering from a low of €0.545. Across 48 deals, €132,880 in turnover was recorded, involving 238,234 shares.

Mapfre Malta plc advanced 8.4% over the month, closing at €1.42 after recovering from a low of €1.33. A total of 22,258 shares were transacted across 11 deals, producing €31,572 in trading value.

Malta International Airport plc edged 0.8% higher over the month, closing at its monthly high of €6.25 after dipping to a low of €6.05. A combined 59,007 shares changed hands across 50 deals, bringing total turnover to €364,796.

Among the month’s notable decliners, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc shed 8.2% to close at €5.60, having reached a high of €6 earlier in the period. A total of 19,328 shares were dealt across 28 transactions, amounting to €108,834 in traded value.

PG plc tanked 6.1% over the month, closing at €1.55 after trading as high as €1.65. The consumer staples equity saw 160,672 shares dealt across 26 transactions, with total traded value reaching €256,453.

Having fallen 8.2% from a high of €0.438, Malita Investments plc closed the month at €0.38, its monthly low. A total of 79,158 shares were transacted across 13 deals, amounting to €31,514 in turnover.

Company Announcements

Bank of Valletta plc has announced that during the six-month period ended June 30, 2026, the Group registered operating income of €251.3m, up 3% from €244m in the corresponding period, driven by higher net interest income from continued growth in the lending book. Profit after tax nonetheless fell to €79m from €89.5m, a decline of 11.8%, for basic earnings of €0.1231 per share, primarily reflecting a net credit loss charge in the period against a release in the prior year, together with higher operating costs arising from ongoing investment in staff, technology and regulatory initiatives. The Board declared an interim net dividend of €0.0523 per share, representing a payout ratio of 42.5% of profit after tax, payable on August 21, 2026.

APS Bank plc has announced that, at its board meeting held on July 30, 2026, the Board approved the Group’s condensed interim financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2026. The Group delivered a record interim result, with profit after tax rising to €16.3m from €4.9m in the corresponding period, for earnings of €0.0082 per share. The strong performance was driven by robust growth in business volumes and a stronger, more diversified revenue base. The Board declared an interim net dividend of €4m or €0.0082 per share.

During thesix months ended June 2026, Malta International Airport plc has generated revenue of €82.5m, up 14.8% from €71.9m in the corresponding period, driven by a 15.6% increase in traffic to 5.2m passenger movements, while profit after tax rose to €29m, an increase of 18.5%. The Board approved an interim net dividend of €0.06 per share.

For thesix months ended June 2026, Mapfre Malta plc registered profit after tax of €9.2m, down from €9.8m in the corresponding period, for earnings of €0.07 per share. The reduction was primarily attributable to a lower insurance service result, reflecting the impact of Storm Harry and the fireworks factory explosion earlier in the year as well.

Malta Properties Company plc registered rental income of €2.9m for the six months ended June 30, 2026, up 29% from €2.3m in the corresponding period, driven mainly by the renovation and re-letting of previously vacant properties to new tenants. Profit after tax more than doubled to €1m from €0.5m.

Plaza Centres plc (PZC) has entered into a promise of sale agreement to acquire a property in Tigné, Sliema. The property is leased to an established childcare operator, and the acquisition is expected to enhance the Company’s earnings upon completion. The transaction remains subject to several conditions that must be satisfied by the seller. The Board believes the acquisition aligns with the Company’s strategy of strengthening and diversifying its property portfolio and will update the market on any material developments.

AX Group plc has announced that, by virtue of a deed dated July 15, 2026, its majority-owned subsidiary AX Business Park Limited acquired an immovable property in Marsa measuring circa 6,923m² from Marsa Investments Limited, previously used as the match box factory known as “The Modern Match Factory Marsa”. The total consideration of €15m was paid in full upon execution of the final deed of sale. The acquisition consolidates the adjacent properties already owned by AX Business Park Limited, with the Group currently working on plans for the development of the overall site and a development application to be submitted to the Planning Authority soon.

RS2 plc has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, RS2 Financial Services GmbH, has been selected by the Euro system to participate as an acquiring payment service provider in the European Central Bank’s Digital Euro Pilot. The subsidiary is one of 36 payment service providers selected for the programme, which is intended to test the practical application of a potential digital euro in real-world payment scenarios and is expected to commence during the second half of 2027.

This article, which was compiled by Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, does not intend to give investment advice and the contents therein should not be construed as such. The Company is licensed to conduct investment services by the MFSA and is a Member of the Malta Equity Exchange and a member of the Atlas Group. The directors or related parties, including the company, and their clients are likely to have an interest in securities mentioned in this article. For further information contact Jesmond Mizzi Financial Advisors Limited, 16 Central Business Hub, Level 3, Mdina Road, Attard ATD 9036, or on Tel: 21224410, or email info@jesmondmizzi.com

The post Trading Report for July 2026: BOV and APS continue upward momentum first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

This increase in debt was partially offset by a drop in Foreign Loans (€80.1 million) and in the 62+ Malta Government Savings Bond (€37.8 million). Moreover, higher holdings by government funds in Malta Government Stocks resulted in a decrease in debt of €22.7 million, the NSO said.

By the end of June 2026, the Government’s Consolidated Fund reported a deficit of €463.5 million.

Between January and June 2026, Recurrent Revenue amounted to €4,155.2 million, €681.0 million higher than the figure reported a year earlier. The largest increases were recorded under Income Tax (€287.7 million), Grants (€156.8 million) and Value Added Tax (€137.4 million). On the other hand, lower revenue was recorded under Fees of Office (€13.8 million), Reimbursements (€2.1 million) and Sales – Others (€0.9 million).

Total expenditure by the close of June 2026 stood at €4,618.7 million, €687.1 million higher than the previous year.

During the reference period, Recurrent Expenditure totalled €3,952.9 million, an increase of €506.5 million compared to the €3,446.4 million reported the year prior. The main contributor to this increase was a €262.2 million rise reported under Programmes and Initiatives. Further increases were also recorded under Operational and Maintenance Expenses (€96.3 million), Personal Emoluments (€82.6 million), and Contributions to Government Entities (€65.5 million).

The main developments in the Programmes and Initiatives category involved higher outlays towards Social security benefits (€88.1 million), Medicines and surgical materials (€25.7 million) and EU own resources (€24.4 million).

The interest component of the public debt servicing costs totalled €158.5 million, an increase of €14.6 million when compared to the previous year.

By the end of June 2026, Government’s capital spending amounted to €507.3 million, €165.9 million higher than the comparative period in 2025. Higher outlay was, among others, reported towards the Acquisition of property for public purposes (€49.1 million), Property, Plant and Equipment (€18.6 million) and Road construction and improvements (€15.0 million). The rise in spending was partially offset by drops recorded under the Investments in Physical Assets (Agricultural EU funds) (€5.3 million) and Investment Incentives (€5.1 million).

The difference between total revenue and expenditure resulted in a deficit of €463.5 million being reported in the Government’s Consolidated Fund at the end of June 2026, in comparison to the €457.4 million deficit registered the year prior. This difference mirrors an increase in total Recurrent Revenue (€681.0 million), offset by a higher rise in total expenditure, which consists of Recurrent Expenditure (€506.5 million), Interest (€14.6 million) and Capital Expenditure (€165.9 million).

The post Government debt edges closer to €12 billion – NSO first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Addressing the eighth meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Dalli said the government wanted input from employers, trade unions and civil society on initiatives that could reduce pressure on specific parts of the electricity grid during demand peaks.

She said Engineer Abigail Cutajar had been tasked with meeting MCESD members to present the government’s proposals and discuss measures that could encourage responsible electricity consumption.

Dalli stressed that the discussions would not concern changes to electricity tariffs or higher bills. Instead, they would focus on managing sharp, localised increases in demand when extreme temperatures place particular feeders and substations under pressure.

“The fact that we do not burden people with high bills does not mean that we promote waste,” she said.

The meeting was requested to discuss the electricity supply challenges experienced during the previous week, which Dalli acknowledged had caused concern among residents, businesses and the groups represented within the MCESD.

She said Malta had not followed the approach taken by some other European countries, where restrictions on electricity use had been introduced. However, she said this did not mean that Malta should avoid awareness initiatives encouraging consumers to use electricity responsibly.

Dalli said the government had already carried out public information campaigns but acknowledged that more could be done. She invited MCESD members to submit their own ideas on how consumers could help reduce demand during the most critical periods.

Malta’s electricity demand reached 741 megawatts during the recent period of intense heat, substantially higher than the country’s average demand of around 450MW.

Dalli said electricity demand had increased by 86% when compared with 2014, attributing the rise to extreme temperatures, a growing population and increased activity across homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and the manufacturing industry.

She said the recent pressure on the network had largely been caused by localised demand peaks rather than a nationwide shortage of electricity.

The most significant problems were experienced at low-voltage level, where a number of individual consumers were affected. These faults were concentrated on particular feeders and substations serving specific areas.

Dalli said investment carried out at high- and medium-voltage levels since 2024 had strengthened the system and provided Enemalta with greater flexibility when faults occurred, helping prevent consumers from remaining without electricity for long periods.

However, she acknowledged that the work needed to continue across different localities, particularly at medium- and low-voltage levels.

Three distribution centres are currently under construction and are expected to be completed shortly, while further work is planned in several localities.

Valletta was identified as one of the areas where ageing electricity infrastructure must be replaced. Dalli said carrying out the necessary works in the capital would be particularly sensitive because of its high concentration of residents, offices and commercial establishments.

She said Enemalta had been asked to hold discussions with MCESD members, Infrastructure Malta and the Valletta Local Council to determine how the project could be carried out gradually and with the least possible disruption to the residential and business communities.

Works have also started in Birkirkara, Kalkara and Mellieħa, although Dalli said it was not possible to excavate entire localities simultaneously.

She argued that while the government wanted to accelerate the investment programme, the complexity of works inside residential streets meant that a long-term plan could not simply be completed within two years.

“We cannot dig up the whole country at once,” she said, adding that infrastructure works inevitably created inconvenience for residents and businesses.

Dalli thanked Enemalta employees for their response during the recent difficulties and for their work on the distribution system since 2024.

She also responded to claims questioning whether the promised investment had taken place. The government has asked the National Audit Office to update its previous report, which covered the period up to 2023, and examine the work carried out by Enemalta during the past three years.

The minister said the government was also continuing to strengthen Malta’s electricity supply and generation capacity as demand increased.

She referred to Malta’s transition from heavy fuel oil to liquefied natural gas, the construction of the first electricity interconnector and ongoing work on the second interconnector.

The government is also planning a third interconnector and further renewable energy projects, including offshore wind developments.

Dalli said these investments were necessary to support Malta’s economic growth while ensuring that the country could continue meeting the electricity needs of residents and businesses.

Social Dialogue Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who opened the meeting, said its agenda had been shaped by the issues raised by MCESD members during his meetings with their respective organisations.

He said the meeting demonstrated the council’s importance in representing workers, businesses, civil society and the interests of Gozo.

Azzopardi Tanti said the government believed in dialogue and collaboration and pledged that the concerns raised by MCESD members would be brought forward for discussion at the earliest opportunity.

Dalli said the electricity challenges faced by the country were a national issue requiring cooperation between the government, Enemalta, social partners and consumers.

She said the government would continue investing in the grid but wanted MCESD members to help identify practical measures that could protect essential electricity use and limit pressure on the network during future periods of extreme demand.

The post Minister Miriam Dalli asks MCESD for measures to address power cut crisis first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The Social Climate Fund provides significant financial support to EU Member States to finance measures and investments identified in their national Social Climate Plans, ensuring that the clean transition is fair and leaves no one behind. Running from 2026 to 2032, the Fund is expected to mobilise at least €86.7 billion, combining revenues from the new emissions trading system for fuel combustion in buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2) as well as Member States’ contributions (at least 25% of the costs of their plans).

Malta’s plan will help vulnerable households improve the energy efficiency of their homes and renovate apartments in public social housing buildings, the statement said. It will do so through energy-efficiency upgrades, such as roof insulation, and the installation of renewable energy systems, including heat pump water heaters and photovoltaic systems with battery storage.

The plan will also expand sustainable transport options for more than 30,000 vulnerable transport users through door-to-door community transport services. In addition, it will support vulnerable micro-enterprises in transport-dependent sectors by improving access to affordable electric mobility and charging infrastructure, helping them transition to electric vehicles.

From 2026 to 2032, the measures will help to tackle energy poverty in the country and are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

The plan was developed in consultation with national stakeholders and the Commission and reflects the needs of the country. The Commission concluded that it adequately addresses the social impacts of extending GHG emissions trading to buildings and road transport under the ETS2.

Malta will be able to request a first payment to the Commission once implementation has started and the initial investment results have been achieved, the statement said.

The post European Commission endorses Malta’s €60 million social climate plan first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Addressing the PN’s delegation, Chamber President William Spiteri Bailey said the business community was looking beyond political criticism and wanted clear solutions to the country’s growing economic and infrastructural challenges.

He said Malta’s credibility depended not only on the government of the day but also on having an Opposition that was prepared to govern.

“When we speak to government, we ask for accountability, implementation and results. When we speak to the Opposition, we ask for vision, preparation and a credible alternative,” Spiteri Bailey said.

He argued that businesses invest in certainty, direction and confidence rather than criticism, before challenging the Opposition to explain what kind of Malta it wanted to lead.

Spiteri Bailey described Malta as being at a crucial moment, saying that while the economy had grown, so too had problems including traffic congestion, energy, infrastructure, pressure on public services, competitiveness, governance and quality of life.

He said these were not isolated issues but symptoms of an economic model that had served Malta well for many years but had now reached its limits.

The Chamber reiterated its long-standing call for Malta to transition from an economy driven by volume to one based on value, moving away from population-led growth towards higher productivity, and competing through quality, innovation and efficiency rather than price alone.

Spiteri Bailey argued that national success should no longer be measured solely by GDP or population growth but also by productivity, competitiveness, quality of life and people’s wellbeing.

He posed a series of questions to the Opposition, asking how it intended to increase productivity, reduce dependence on continuous population growth, attract higher-value investment, strengthen innovation, research, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and help businesses become more productive and competitive.

He also stressed that competitiveness depended not only on tax policy but also on strong institutions, good governance, efficient public administration, modern infrastructure, reliable energy and a modern education system.

The Chamber President said good governance was not simply a matter of reputation but an economic necessity, arguing that countries with stronger institutions attracted more investment and achieved more sustainable growth.

Referring to the government’s Vision 2050 strategy, Spiteri Bailey said a vision alone was insufficient unless it was translated into concrete plans and action. He pointed to the Chamber’s own policy proposals on productivity, tourism, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and governance as examples of practical contributions to the national debate.

He called for cross-party consensus on issues such as productivity, education, energy, competitiveness, justice, governance and Malta’s international reputation, saying these national priorities should not change with every electoral cycle.

Closing his address, Spiteri Bailey said the Chamber did not engage in partisan politics but in economic policy.

“We are not interested in who wins the election. We are interested in Malta winning,” he said, adding that the country needed long-term leadership willing to take difficult decisions while placing productivity, competitiveness, governance and quality of life at the centre of policymaking.

Replying to the Chamber, Opposition Leader Alex Borg agreed that Malta needed to focus on improving quality of life alongside economic growth.

Borg said the Nationalist Party believed Malta should invest more heavily in energy to reduce dependence on foreign countries.

He also described traffic congestion as having a significant impact on businesses. Borg said this was why the party had proposed introducing a mass transit system during the general election campaign.

The Opposition Leader also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in industry, saying he had visited several businesses that had invested significantly in AI, particularly within the manufacturing sector, helping improve national productivity.

Borg cautioned that headline GDP figures did not necessarily reflect people’s daily lives.

“On paper GDP can look a certain way, but quality of life can look completely different,” he said.

While acknowledging the importance of economic growth, Borg argued that the wellbeing of workers should remain the country’s principal priority.

He added that future development should be guided by a clear long-term plan that reflected today’s realities.

The post Chamber of Commerce urges Opposition to present credible economic vision first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Speaking during a meeting with the Agriculture Consultative Council at Buskett, Abela said the amendments, approved by Cabinet, would create a fairer system by assessing farmers according to their declared income rather than simply the size of their agricultural holdings.

He said the revised framework would strengthen the legal system introduced last year, improve efficiency and allow the government to provide more tailored assistance to different categories of farmers.

Abela also announced that works on the long-promised Farmers’ Market at Ta’ Qali will begin in September. The project, which forms part of the government’s electoral programme, is intended to provide dedicated facilities for farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen while creating more opportunities for direct sales to consumers.

The market is also expected to give shoppers greater access to fresh local produce at affordable prices.

The Prime Minister said such initiatives would strengthen Malta’s food supply, safeguard the country’s agricultural heritage and protect the rural environment. However, he stressed that the government’s priority remained improving the resilience of the sector and increasing farmers’ incomes.

Abela highlighted a series of reforms introduced in recent years, including changes to agricultural land legislation, the modernisation of the Public Abattoir and reforms at the Pitkalija wholesale market.

He also pointed to the expansion of the New Water system, schemes aimed at improving access to agricultural land, grants to modernise farms and equipment, and financial support to help farmers cope with rising import costs.

As evidence of growth in the sector, Abela said sales of fruit and vegetables through the Pitkalija had increased from €21 million in 2021 to almost €28 million in 2025. He added that further investment was planned, including a new digital system, modern containers and upgraded facilities.

Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, who also attended the meeting, announced that the government will launch a public awareness campaign in the coming weeks to promote olive cultivation and the production of olives and olive oil.

He said the initiative complements ongoing efforts to secure official Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for the endemic Maltese Bidni olive variety and the olive oil produced from it.

Before meeting the Agriculture Consultative Council, Abela visited the Vine Centre at Buskett, where he described viticulture as an important showcase for Maltese agriculture with strong economic potential.

He said the government intends to complete the Wine Museum in Żebbuġ, Gozo, during this legislature and open the Buskett Viticulture Centre to visitors as part of wider plans to develop wine tourism.

Abela said the government’s long-term vision for agriculture is to shift the sector towards higher value-added production through innovation and integrated rural development, while pledging to maintain close dialogue with farmers and their representatives.

The post Abela announces overhaul of farmer classification rules as Ta’ Qali market set for September start first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

These works are being carried out in parallel with the plant’s detailed engineering and process design, marking a major milestone in one of Malta’s largest waste management investments.

The project represents a total investment of €75 million, including approximately €45 million in co-financing through the European Union Cohesion Fund. The new facility will more than double Malta’s capacity to treat organic waste and further strengthen the country’s transition towards a circular economy. This project is also part of the government’s electoral programme.

Minister for Energy, the Environment and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour Miriam Dalli, Minister for European Funds Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca visited the site to view progress on the ongoing works.

“The start of works on this new facility marks another important milestone in a project that will enable us to recover more resources, generate more renewable energy, and continue building a stronger circular economy for Malta,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.

Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti highlighted the important role of European funding in delivering strategic national infrastructure projects. “Through a €45 million investment co-financed by European funds, WasteServ is implementing a crucial project that will bring our country closer to a circular economy. We are demonstrating in practical terms how European funds can be invested in Malta’s real needs, while treating waste as a valuable resource from which we can generate clean energy and compost.”

Once operational, the new facility will increase annual organic waste treatment capacity from around 36,000 tonnes to more than 74,000 tonnes. As waste separation continues to increase, this additional capacity will enable significantly larger volumes of organic waste to be converted into renewable energy and high-quality compost, while increasing electricity generation from the current 8.5 GWh to up to 20 GWh annually.

The facility will also incorporate advanced technology and higher levels of automation to maximise efficiency, improve operational performance, and further enhance environmental safeguards.

WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca said the project is progressing according to plan. “Construction has now entered its first phase, with excavation works underway across the site. General excavation is being carried out using specialised surface planer excavators that are specifically suited to the scale of the project while helping to minimise environmental impacts, particularly noise and vibration. In line with WasteServ’s commitment to sustainability, excavated material is also being reused on site to backfill low-lying areas to the required design levels. Works have also started on the construction of the facility’s perimeter retaining wall, while detailed process and engineering designs are currently being finalised.”

The Organic Processing Plant is expected to be completed within two years and will become another key component of the ECOHIVE strategy.

The post Works begin on new €75 million Organic Processing Plant first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

This is my first summer in Malta, and the naysayers were right.

I was warned it gets hot. I didn’t quite realise how hot, and how intense the Maltese sun can be. And there has been little respite this year, with most of Europe having spent the last few weeks trapped under the same enduring heatwave, so even the usual escape routes north have offered little relief.

Just last week, July’s heat record was shattered, according to the Times of Malta, with the country experiencing its hottest July day on record with temperatures soaring to a sizzling 43.3°C. Walk through Valletta, Sliema or any Maltese town on a summer’s day and the reason is clear: the stunning limestone buildings sadly offer little shade, instead absorbing solar energy all day and releasing it slowly through the night, along with the concrete pavements and asphalt roads.

Malta is already the EU country worst placed to escape the heat. In a recent Eurobarometer survey, just 22% of Maltese people reported living within a five-minute walk of a green space, against an EU average of 50% – worse than every member state bar Romania. A follow-up survey found that only 51% said access to a green space was easy, compared with close to 100% in Denmark, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden. Perhaps an unfair comparison, as those countries do not have Mediterranean climates, but Malta’s summer heat is also compounded by having the lowest forest cover of any EU country, at just 4.3%.

Malta can’t control the climate, but it can control how it responds to it. The data indicates that it has more room to improve shade and access to green space than almost anywhere else in Europe – which also means more room to gain.

Green infrastructure is infrastructure

When we think about investment in infrastructure, we naturally think of roads, hospitals, schools and housing. But trees, parks and green spaces should belong on that list too. With temperatures rising across Europe, the case is no longer just an aesthetic one.

Studies across cities including Washington DC, Athens and Singapore, consistently find that increasing tree-canopy cover can measurably lower both air and surface temperatures. Air-temperature reductions are often in the region of 1–2°C, while pedestrian comfort may improve considerably more, since direct shade beneath a tree can substantially reduce the heat experienced by passersby. For a country like Malta, whose narrow streets already trap heat overnight, that difference is not marginal – it can determine whether the evening passiggata happens at all.

The health stakes are real too. More than 10,000 excess deaths have already been attributed to this year’s early heatwave in Europe with the vast majority aged over 65. Another study estimated that nearly 40% of deaths attributed to urban heat across Europe in 2015 could have been prevented had cities increased their tree cover to 30% of land area. Although forest cover and urban tree-canopy cover are not directly comparable, Malta’s 4.3% forest cover underlines the scale of its greening challenge and its opportunity.

Building on what already exists

Reassuringly, the conversation about making Malta greener has already begun. Project Green (projectgreen.mt) is creating and upgrading accessible and inclusive public parks and recreational spaces, and is striving to improve the quality of life for the people of Malta and Gozo. Its aim is to create eco friendly spaces a short walk from residents’ homes. These steps are hugely important, but Malta lacks one single, measurable national target around which to organise its efforts.

So, what if Malta adopted one – along the lines of: “By 2040, each Maltese and Gozitan resident should live within a five-minute walk of a shaded green space.”

Given that only 22% currently do, this is an ambitious but honest target – one that would give Project Green, local councils, and private property developers a shared metric to work towards, rather than merely a general direction of travel.

Thinking small to achieve something big

Malta does not have the space for large new parks, but it does have room for smaller interventions: pocket parks in unused corners, tree-lined pedestrian routes, green schoolyards, planted public squares instead of additional paving, and green roofs or living walls as standard features of new developments.

Species choice matters too. Malta’s native and Mediterranean trees – carob, olive, Aleppo pine, cypress and strawberry tree – are drought-tolerant once established, so greening towns need not place heavy long-term demands on the island’s water supply.

A business case, not just an environmental one

This is what may matter most to business readers.

Energy costs Research on US cities found that peak electricity demand rises by 2-4% for every 1°C increase in daily maximum temperature above a 15-20°C threshold, driven largely by air-conditioning load. Trees can help reduce this by cooling the ambient air and, more significantly, by shading buildings directly, cutting the demand for air-conditioning in the first place.

Property values This is one of the best-evidenced green-infrastructure effects globally. Studies have found that proximity to green space can add a significant premium to property prices. Even conservatively, a national shading target could also be considered a national property-value programme.

Footfall and retail Shaded, walkable streets keep shoppers outdoors for longer and encourage repeat visits, a pattern documented in several European high-street greening projects. To my knowledge Malta does not yet have a published local footfall study to cite. I believe the data exists so it may be worth publishing before the next round of streetscape investment, so the claim can be tested, rather than assumed.

Talent and tourism Malta already markets its climate and lifestyle to remote workers and international firms. A country that is visibly and measurably adapting to Mediterranean heat – rather than simply enduring it – makes a stronger pitch than one that is not.

None of this is to suggest that greening pays for itself instantly. What I hope to demonstrate is that green infrastructure can behave economically in much the same way as other infrastructure projects: an upfront cost with a quantifiable, compounding return.

A piece of a bigger puzzle

Importantly, this proposal needs not sit outside Malta’s national climate strategy. Instead, it supports one of its weakest areas.

The EU’s 2040 climate target commits member states to a 90% net reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions (relative to 1990 emissions) on the way to full climate neutrality by 2050. Malta’s own National Energy and Climate Plan sets a comparatively modest renewable energy target of 24.5% by 2030 – well below the EU-wide collective 42.5% goal. The plan itself attributes this gap to the island’s lack of space for solar and wind farms and the absence of rivers for hydropower.

Malta can’t simply generate its way out of this problem as larger member states can. With limited land for renewables, and cooling accounting for a growing share of energy use, reducing demand is especially important. Malta’s climate plan already recognises the need to cut heating and cooling demand, with the country recording the EU’s largest year-on-year increase in renewable heating and cooling in 2024, making Malta the fastest growing EU nation for green climate control over that year. A national shading target would therefore complement – not compete with – the existing energy strategy: reducing air-conditioning demand without placing further pressure on scarce land or water.

A concrete proposal (if you forgive the pun)

Malta already has many of the requisite building blocks in place: Project Green, cross-party interest, and community pressure. What is missing is a single national measure tying these efforts together, supported by incentives for incorporating greenery into new property and infrastructure developments. A five-minute shaded-green-space target could be embedded in planning policy, tracked by local councils and reported on annually, like any other infrastructure commitment.

Young trees planted this year will provide their greatest benefit not to us, but to generations to come. Malta has repeatedly shown that it can adapt and outperform its size. Measuring national progress by how much shade and green space we create, alongside how many roads and properties we build, would be a fitting next step – and, on the numbers above, a genuinely profitable and healthy one.

Beyond the economic case, proximity to nature is associated with lower stress, cleaner air and greater opportunities for summer exercise. Trees provide shade while helping to capture dust and pollutants. The benefits are environmental, economic, and profoundly human. What’s not to like?

Maria Darby-Walker is a non-executive director; Visiting Fellow, Oxford University and Business adviser / mentor

The post A five-minute walk to shade: Malta’s missing climate target first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.