More than 2,000 delegates have confirmed to arrive for the networking event that might see brokering deals and discussing the important issues defining the sector, including legislation, education, investment, and technology. 

The inaugural edition of Medical Cannabiz World will welcome the medical cannabis sector that boasts of potential as the Maltese government has recently passed legislation supporting its commitment to the vertical.  

The summit will host exhibitors, brands from across the industry, production, logistics, payment processing, know your customer (KYC), legal and regulatory. 

The summit will also focus on the regulatory benefits for businesses setting up in Malta, attracting investors, medical researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs looking to forge exciting new opportunities. 

“This is another huge milestone for both Malta and the wider business community involved in the life-changing medical cannabis industry.  With Malta’s new regulatory environment in this area, we are seeing a significant number of companies coming to the island to take part in the summit, many of which are either looking for angel funding from early-bird investors or are offering investment opportunities,” said Eman Pulis, Founder and CEO of SiGMA Group.   

In addition, Medical Cannabiz World is part of Malta Week, featuring the Malta AI and Blockchain Summit on 7-8 November.

The post Malta to host first Medical Cannabiz summit first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Mr Patel joined the company in May and is responsible for gearing up and leading SiGMA’s global marketing operation to meet the growing demands of the company’s expansion into markets in Asia and the Middle East.

“I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic team. My focus will be to take SiGMA to greater heights, to establish the company as a market leader within its chosen sectors and to help achieve the company’s chosen targets. I am looking forward to applying my experience to the challenges ahead,” said Mr Patel.

With his 30 years of marketing experience, both traditional and online, comes Mr Patel’s strong ties to the Asian markets. The company expects his role to be key to its commitment to strengthening its core team in Malta and to the success of its endeavours in the Asia Pacific region.

SiGMA Group is going to explore opportunities across Asia — specifically Dubai, Manila and Hong Kong. In tandem with this expansion, the company has announced the planned 2020 inaugural launches of Emirates A.I. and Blockchain Summit and SiGMA Manila.

The company will also embark on an ambitious global Roadshow in 2019. Following a triumphant first stop in Manila, the roadshow will now take in New Jersey in June, with further international trips to be announced.

“We are delighted to be adding new talent to our C-level team as we take the SiGMA Group to new heights. I am confident that Prashant will prove an essential addition to the team here in Malta and to the continuing success of this company as it expands its scope eastwards,” said Eman Pulis, Founder and CEO, at SiGMA Group.

SiGMA has been busy with strengthening its team lately. Very recently, Rick Goddard was appointed Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) across all the SiGMA brands.

The post SiGMA names new chief marketing officer first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The show brought together key players from the sectors of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other emerging technologies to discuss and shape the future.

Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said in his keynote speech that emerging technologies should not be feared but rather embraced and utilised for offering a better life. He also said his government will keep supporting these verticals.

“The results have been overwhelming. We are staying a step ahead, helping the government bring all these great minds to Malta, fueling the Maltese economy by supporting the tech ecosystem,” commented Eman Pulis, Founder of Malta A.I. & Blockchain Summit and CEO of SiGMA Group. “There are plenty of incentives for A.I. and blockchain companies to relocate to Malta, so what better forum than a summit like this to bring everyone together. I think it is safe to assume that it is the largest show in its category worldwide so far this year.”

The list of VIP speakers included Brock Pierce, Ben Goertzel, Larry Sanger, Patrick Chang, and Noel Sharkey, all sharing valuable insights and enriching the audience in the process. Moreover, keynotes from industry giants Noel Sharkey and Bobby Lee had a fundamental meaning for the audience, with Bobby Lee emphatic on bitcoin’s staying power, saying he believed it would eventually go up to a million dollars, as the press release says.

The post AIBC Summit attracts 5,500 delegates for spring show first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The move will take advantage of expanding interest in the Middle East for the emerging technology of online gaming due to “its potential to invigorate the economy and shake up governance,” the event organisers say. While Malta continues its focus on regulation, the Emirates and its neighbouring states are looking at blockchain with fresh eyes which SiGMA hopes will help its operations flourish.

The company says that its move to the Middle East coincides with “other major companies looking to get a finger in the blockchain pie, with industry players instead eyeing the United States as their base for business,” according to the press statement sent to BM.

“As part of the company’s strategic growth, the plan for 2020 will focus on strengthening core events in Malta and on the smooth running of the inaugural opening of the Emirates A.I. & Blockchain Summit. Rounding off an ambitious expansion plan, 2020 will also set the stage for the launch of SiGMA in the Philippines, with the event making its Asian debut in Manila,” says Eman Pulis, CEO if SiGMA.

Quick evolution

SiGMA — which is used interchangeably for the organising firm and the iGaming event — has gone through a rapid transformation since the first event was held in 2014. That year the firm says it moved into an untapped niche of opportunity within the local iGaming market. By 2015, SiGMA expanded operations and doubled its numbers. With attendance figures on the rise, 2017 marked entry to Europe, however, organisers say the plunge for becoming a world-class event came in 2018, “with an elite selection of delegates, policymakers and thought leaders pouring in from across the globe,” according to the press statement.

“It is this kind of international support and interest that has helped propel SiGMA into truly becoming the world’s iGaming village. Through a commitment to quality and years of successful operations, SiGMA has nurtured the development of a strong brand, allowing for its evolution into a global influencer on the iGaming world stage,” the press statement says.

Expanding operations

In 2018, the company expanded operations and launched a show dedicated to the emerging blockchain sphere; the Malta Blockchain Summit, which received positive feedback from the players in the industry. The show was also the launchpad for three pieces of Maltese government regulation; on blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), and the initiation of a government Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

The blockchain summit in November 2018 attracted 8,500 participants and brought speakers such as W. Scott Stornetta, John McAfee, the Winklevoss Twins and Sophia the Robot to Malta’s stage. The organisers say that their summit took the scene by storm and has secured its place as the “leading event in blockchain tech”.

As of 2019, the show has expanded focus into exploring more niches and today runs rebranded as the Malta AI & Blockchain Summit. This year, two blockchain shows will be held in Malta — in addition to SiGMA’s iGaming summit and the first Cannabiz Summit World—; one in May and another one in November. The shows aim to attract a global crowd of exhibitors by boosting its offering to include artificial intelligence, quantum tech, internet of things and big data.

Cannabiz Summit World

The company will also host a medical cannabis summit; Cannabiz Summit World, where it hopes to offer a platform for leading researchers and regulators to explore the revolutionary cannabis industry to boost economic growth and revitalise the health industry.

Organisers hope that the event will lay the foundations for an evolutionary leap into medical cannabis as the worlds of science, technology, and agribusiness converge.

“The summit is a reflection not only of Malta’s efforts through Malta Enterprise and the Medicines Authority in attracting the most reputable firms to the islands but is also a reflection of the direction many states worldwide are taking in creating the right legislative framework for medical cannabis research, production and/or consumption,” the press statement says.

The post Malta’s SiGMA expands operations into Middle East, Asia first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.