Shaping tomorrow: EY Future Realised returns to chart Malta’s path in a changing Europe

Simon Barberi is the EY Attractiveness Survey and EU Consulting Leader from EY Malta

EY’s Future Realised 2025 is more than Malta’s leading economic forum. It is a trusted platform for high-level dialogue, convening the country’s most influential voices alongside global leaders to explore Malta’s strategic direction in a rapidly evolving world.  Now in its 21st edition, EY’s Future Realised returns to the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta on October 22^nd. From government and opposition leaders to European institutions, investors, CEOs and academics, Future Realised offers a rare space where diverse voices engage constructively on Malta’s future and its role in Europe’s competitiveness.

As in previous years, the conference will feature insights from EY’s Malta Attractiveness Survey, a vital barometer of investor sentiment and business confidence. In its 21st iteration, this survey continues to provide hard data on how Malta is perceived as a destination for investment, offering a pulse check that helps frame strategic decision-making at both national and firm level.

What sets the 2025 edition apart is its forward-focused agenda, one that addresses emerging forces reshaping economies and labour markets across Europe and beyond.

At the heart of the programme are three central themes that reflect the challenges and opportunities facing Malta and the EU bloc more broadly.

Malta’s Economic Model: What’s Next?

With long-term growth in focus, this theme invites a candid conversation on Malta’s investment outlook and its evolving value proposition. Discussions will examine how the country must adapt its economic model to remain resilient and globally competitive, with an eye toward Vision 2050 and the shifting demands of sustainable growth.

AI Agents and the Redesign of Business and Work

As artificial intelligence moves from hype to implementation, this theme explores how generative AI and autonomous agents are transforming sectors, reshaping labour needs, and redefining productivity across the EU. The conversation will go beyond automation to examine the future of work and what Malta must do to lead in a digital-first world.

Global Trade and Investment: Where Do Malta and Europe Fit?

Against the backdrop of geopolitical flux and realigned global supply chains, this theme delves into the EU’s evolving position in global trade and capital flows. With Malta situated at the crossroads of multiple regions, the discussion will focus on how the country can leverage its connectivity, agility, and policy environment to stay relevant in a fractured global economy.

These headline themes will be complemented by focused breakout sessions exploring five enabling priorities:

• Build – Addressing infrastructure gaps critical to growth
• Share – Rethinking shared service and infrastructure models
• Engage – Adopting AI and emerging technologies at scale
• Generate – Aligning education and skills with future demand
• Change – Embedding sustainability into long-term strategy

These themes will be brought to life through contributions from a diverse set of speakers, including senior European leaders, central bankers, ambassadors, investors and policymakers, many of whom have participated in past editions.

Over the years, Future Realised has become Malta’s flagship forum for setting direction at a time when clarity, competitiveness, and execution matter most.

Join the conversation. Help shape what comes next. Register now: Malta Future Realised 2025 | EY – Global