Finance Minister Edward Scicluna today said that investors need to be offered more education and protection in order to minimise their risks when investing.

He was speaking at a conference organised by the Malta Stock Exchange titled, ‘Investor Education: Listen. Learn.Invest.' 

A lot of people work hard to save up and end up placing their money at risk through risky investment ventures, he said.

Addressing the tax on dividends, Professor Scicluna said the government priority for the 2016 budget was to help those who have not already benefitted from a cut in income taxes.

The next step will be reducing taxes on dividends, he said.

Professor Scicluna also announced that in two weeks’ time that a new third pillar private pension scheme is going to be launched.