Isaac Saliba
Vision 2050, which is the government’s plan with economic and other initiatives and targets up to the year 2050, has opened for public consultation until September, and a final document for the project is expected to be published around Q4 2025.
Malta is moving beyond the traditional measure of national progress, that being the GDP, to measure progress through broader and more meaningful indicators such as life satisfaction, quality of education, median disposable income, healthcare outcomes, and the strength of personal and community relationships, among other indicators, the government stated as it unveiled Vision 2050 on Tuesday.
This shift, the government said, reflects a commitment to building a society where well-being, opportunity, and quality of life are at the heart of every decision made. Having said that, it stated that GDP growth will still remain an important benchmark but will be pursued in a more sustainable and inclusive manner. It continued that Malta is targeting a more sustainable average annual GDP growth rate of 5% up to 2035.
Launching the document, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the main declaration of the vision is that of “a safe and resilient nation, inspired by its historical heritage and driven by progress”. He remarked that he sees Malta as a strong, sustainable, and inclusive country that cares for its people.
Abela said that Vision 2050 “is not merely the government’s plan for the future, but a national conversation that goes beyond a political cycle or one party in government”. He added that Vision 2050 also offers a unique opportunity for Gozo, and that “the vision sees Gozo as a model for the whole country”. He commented that Gozo represents a microcosm of the key challenges and opportunities addressed by Vision 2050, “from sustainable development and quality of life, to improved connectivity, innovation, and economic resilience”.
Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that the way in which the government will start measuring Malta’s success is through focusing on the quality of life of the individual, not just on the GDP. “This means that from now on, we will measure our nation’s progress based on how healthy, happy, and fulfilled our people are,” he remarked.
The government described Vision 2050 as a “national initiative shaping Malta’s long-term development”. It said that the vision sets a clear direction with measurable targets for 2035 and beyond, unifying various sectoral strategies under one comprehensive framework to guide national progress until 2050.
It said that despite Malta’s significant economic and social gains, global shifts such as climate change, technological advancements, and demographic changes require a unified and forward-looking response in order to secure long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Minister Schembri said that Vision 2050 was developed by analysing over 30 key sectoral strategies as a means of providing a comprehensive overview of policy directions. He continued that there was a review of over 1,800 initiatives, of which more than 90 macro initiatives were consolidated in the vision framework. Schembri added that analyses were carried out on other countries such as Singapore, Denmark, Ireland, and Luxembourg.
The government added that stakeholders were engaged via various means, including surveys and focus groups, and it stated that consultations were also held with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, as well as the Opposition, public officials, and youth representatives.
It said that the findings from the analyses were further refined through targeted meetings with key ministries and public entities – and that to understand the global context within which Malta must position itself, the government stated that a set of 15 major global macro-trends were identified. These trends included AI, sustainability, and workforce shifts, all of which, it said, are poised to significantly shape the country’s long-term development.
The main objectives of Vision 2050, the government said, are to guide Malta toward a future-ready, inclusive, resilient, and competitive society, anchored around four strategic pillars.
Those four strategic pillars were listed as sustainable economic growth, accessible citizen-centred services, resilience and education, and smart land and sea usage.
Detailing the focus areas of the strategic pillars, it said that the focus areas of sustainable economic growth are high-value sectors such as tourism, finance, gaming, aviation, high-end manufacturing, and the maritime sector. It also focuses on green and blue economies, innovation, and productivity-led growth.
Accessible, citizen-centred services focus on healthcare, housing, transport, digital services, and social inclusion. Among the key potential macro-initiatives for healthcare are a focus on healthcare workforce resilience, and a push to improve fertility outcomes of the Maltese population by subsidising IVF treatments, promoting healthier lifestyles, and reducing exposure to harmful substances, as well as improving worklife balance. The government also stated that a potential initiative is to develop green mass transportation systems, as well as deploy subsidies on electric vehicle purchases and grants for home charging stations.
The focus areas of resilience and education are infrastructure, national defence, energy, environment, education reform, and skills development. On the matter of energy, a potential initiative is to increase Malta’s ambition to a renewable energy share of 25% by 2030, mainly through photovoltaic systems, the government commented.
Smart land and sea usage is about focusing on land and marine resource management, heritage, green infrastructure, and biodiversity.
These pillars, the government said, will be enabled through digital transformation, including AI in services, smart infrastructure, and digital governance. Policy and governance through future-focused policy and simplified regulation will also play a role, along with funding through resource prioritisation and public-private partnerships. An additional aspect is that of national branding, which is to be done through positioning Malta as an inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready nation.
In regard to tourism, the government said that the target is to prioritise quality over quantity, balancing visitor volumes with higher per capita expenditure. For the gaming sector, it said that there will be a focus on reinforcing regulatory frameworks while exploring frontiers such as game development, e-sports, and interactive entertainment.
It continued that the shipping and maritime industry will see expanded Freeport capacity through outward land reclamation, more efficient ship registration processes, and the development of new trade routes to strengthen Malta’s role as a logistics hub. Blue and green economies, it said, will promote marine sustainability, renewable energy, circular waste management, and biodiversity conservation.
In terms of financial services, the government stated that Malta will position itself as a destination for investment funds, fintech ventures, and the regional headquarters of multinational companies.
It said that there will be a focus on the opening of new international routes for the aviation sector, as well as expansion in regard to maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities. It added that a key potential macro-initiative is to develop the dedicated cargo terminal at the Malta International Airport. It continued that the manufacturing sector will focus on high-value segments such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, while the construction industry will place greater emphasis on renovation, sustainable spatial planning, and enhancing the well-being of citizens through the built environment.
Outlining its target goals, the government said that Malta in 2023 ranked 25th in the United Nations’ Human Development Index, with the target for 2035 being for Malta to rank in the top 20, and the goal for 2050 being a ranking within the top 10.
One of the aims is aolso for the median disposable income to rise from what it is today to around that in France by 2035.
It continued that according to Eurostat findings, Malta in 2023 ranked 13th in life satisfaction, with the government’s target for 2035 being a top 10 ranking, and the target for 2050 being a top 5 ranking.
As for how Vision 2050 will be implemented and governed, the government said that this will be achieved through centralised leadership, with a dedicated project management office to coordinate implementation across the ministries. It continued that there will be a real-time KPI dashboard for progress monitoring, as well as a national consultation and outreach campaign, which will run in Q2 and Q3 2025. It added that over 1,800 measures will be reviewed for coherence with the overall vision.
Speaking on the need for Vision 2050, the government said that with the European Union’s 2050 climate neutrality target in sight, this is the ideal moment to chart a clear and ambitious long-term vision which secures Malta’s position as a resilient, competitive, and sustainable nation. It added that while there are many sector-specific strategies already in place, the government still felt the need for an overarching framework that brings everything together.
The government concluded that Vision 2050 is “more than just a policy framework – it is our national commitment to a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient”. It continued that through this vision, the government is planning beyond political cycles, “offering clarity, stability, and peace of mind for the years ahead”.
On the public consultation, the government said that it is an invitation to every citizen, business, and organisation to take part in shaping the Malta of tomorrow.
