A total 1.4 million people viewed Finance Malta’s social online media pages last year, according to Kenneth Farrugia, chairman, Finance Malta.
The views were made on the financial platform’s Facebook page, website, Twitter and LinkedIn.
FinanceMalta is a public-private initiative set up to promote Malta's international financial centre.
Speaking during Finance Malta’s 8th Annual Conference, themed ‘Malta’s Financial Services Industry: Building on Success, Reaching New Horizons’, held over two days, Mr Farrugia said that the retirement schemes sector witnessed growth – an emerging sector which is set to continue reguistering further growth.
He said that the last budget helped Finance Malta actively promote itself in the US.
Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech meanwhile said that Malta’s financial services industry has built a credible reputation because of what it did in the past years, overcoming obstacles. “We we will build on this success,” he said.
He continued: “We should not underestimate the fundamental impact that these transformational changes in this sector had on the main features of the Maltese economy.
It would be petty not to acknowledge the work done by our predecessors – Deputy PM
“This was also possible because financial services are one area on which there is convergence between the government and the Opposition. And it would be petty not to acknowledge the work done by our predecessors.”
Quoting Henry Ford, Dr Grech said: ‘If everyone is moving forward, then success takes care of itself’.
He said that the government’s role is to provide the right environment so that financial services in Malta can flourish and compete with the best at an international level.
“Government is committed to attracting new business to Malta. Malta is converging with the more advanced European economies in the growing share of services, including financial services, in its GDP.
SMEs make up 99% of all enterprises in Europe
“Our strategies have worked since Malta has one of the fastest growing economies in the euro area and is expected to register stronger economic growth in future.
“Particular attention should be given to financing of SMEs which make up 99% of all enterprises in Europe,” he added.
More growth in financial services
Parliamentary secretary Jose Herrera closed the conference and said that Malta continued to register growth in the financial services industry which employs some 10,000 people.
He said that Malta was a hub for financial services and there were 27 credit institutions, 33 financial institutions, 59 insurance undertakers, 34 retirement schemes, 139 investment services providers, 27 fund administrators and 142 agencies registered under the Trusts and Trustees Act. He also said that last year, there were 1,376 new companies registered in Malta.