Time to Action: The Malta Chamber pre-Budget document 2026

Fix today’s flaws or risk tomorrow’s growth

The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has issued its Pre Budget Document 2026, calling on Government to address the major challenges that Malta is facing – competitiveness, productivity, population growth, talent, skills and expertise, environmental sustainability, planning and over-construction, take-up of digitalisation, enforcement, public procurement and governance. These issues are impeding value-added growth, quality and well-being.  While there have been some improvements, much work still remains.

In his opening remarks, William Spiteri Bailey, President of The Malta Chamber stated that over the past year, The Malta Chamber has engaged extensively with Government, Opposition, authorities and stakeholders, putting forward over 200 proposals addressing the above.  “While progress in proposal take-up has been registered, much more needs to be done. For this reason, in this year’s Pre Budget Document we have identified 47 priority proposals, that tackle immediate systemic pain points while aligning with the four pillars of Government’s Malta Envision 2050.” He added that, “the road ahead will be challenging, but the necessity is undeniable. The future of our nation depends on the decisions we make today.”

The Malta Chamber CEO, Dr Marthese Portelli, gave a detailed explanation of the 47 proposals. She explained that “for ethical business to keep investing, they need to be confident that they are operating in a country that has a responsive administration.” She emphasised on the importance of addressing the deep-rooted challenges which are deteriorating quality of life, reducing productivity and competitiveness, and which could ultimately lead to economic slowdown. The consequences of continued inaction, or half-hearted measures, will be severe.”  

The Malta Chamber categorised its 47 proposals under the 4 pillars of Envision 2050, aimed to ease adoption by government, both in terms of Budget 2026 and Envision 2050 millstones and deliverables. These are listed below:

1. Sustainable Economic Growth – Mainly revolving around quality over quantity, a modern industrial policy for the manufacturing industry, stronger trade links, an international logistics hub, lowering corporate tax, digitalisation, fiscal discipline, transparent procurement, and targeted tax incentives for high-value sectors.
2. Accessible Citizen-Centred Services – Mainly focusing on more accessible services, elimination of clientelism and stronger enforcement of laws, with fully digitalised law courts, revised corporate tax, targeted tourism investment, and workplace mental well-being support initiatives.
3. A Resilient Country & Modern Education System – Mainly more public sector efficiency, addressing energy and water resources better, better waste management, linking planning permits to environmental efficiency, reversing brain drain, increasing research and innovation funding, amongst others.
4. Smart Land & Sea Usage – Mainly a full review of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), with measures addressing unfinished developments, incentives for heritage restoration, as well as a number of measures to address traffic mitigation and the implementation of port related reforms.

During the press conference, The Malta Chamber also stressed that an underlying pre-requisite for this achievement should be more responsible use of taxpayer money, whereby capital investment should be prioritised over recurrent spending. Public services must be streamlined, modernised, interconnected and equipped with real-time application tracking to reduce duplication and fragmentation.

Dr Marthese Portelli emphasised that ethical businesses must be supported through strategic reforms that cut bureaucracy, strengthen proactive enforcement, modernise infrastructure and boost productivity. Only then can Malta attract high-value investment and sustain long-term prosperity.

The road ahead is not simple, nor is it without difficulty. Malta’s future depends on the courage and resolve to act now. The Malta Chamber remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the country’s prospects and this is why it is making another clarion call in the Pre Budget. Now is the time for action, not hesitation.