After having positioned itself as a leading jurisdiction in blockchain, DLT, and AI, Malta is now further broadening its horizons by following its latest ambition- to become a digital island.

This will not only open new doors for our businesses, which will further improve their services by making them available online 24/7 but will greatly benefit our citizens who will be able to access crucial services from the comfort of their own home.

One can look to Estonia or Denmark as prime examples of digital states, where their citizens can vote, register new companies and sign crucial documents by simply having an internet connection. We want life to be just as comfortable for the Maltese and Gozitans.

One of the challenges a robust economy brings along is the dire need for a more diverse, sustainable economy to avoid depending on one niche. Malta has successfully done so after establishing an exceptional reputation as the blockchain island, after hosting an array of public and private events and projects for the industry.

Now, that the Government is working on a new vision to promote Malta as a digital country, our country’s name will once again be synonymous with a new digital era to further improve services provided on our islands. We aim at having other jurisdictions look to Malta as the lead on the global digital stage which provides an endless career choice for our citizens.

New paths must be built and followed as we move forward. After soon developing its new Cybersecurity Certification Scheme, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, the MDIA, will develop European Digital Innovation;  new investment in High-Performance Computing for academics and scientists.

This will further strengthen our commitment to producing a wide range of expertise in the field by providing new scholarships in post-graduate studies in AI, at the University of Malta. These scholarships will supplement those already provided by the University for blockchain, further confirming the government’s commitment to ensure that education is integrated into our work.

Seeing new developments in companies that are investing in technology and working and operating from Malta. There is a spill-over effect with iGaming companies producing products supported by blockchain technology.

This Government is also investing a new telecom cable between Malta and Gozo, and we have a tender for a cable between Malta and Marseille. The Government is also looking into investing in another cable between Malta and Libya so Malta can act as a connectivity hub between Africa and Mainland Europe.

We are continuing to strengthen our digital infrastructure by launching a cybersecurity campaign and the B Secure scheme for private companies to have their entire system checked by private firms free of charge to see how they can improve their operations against cyber-attacks.

Advancements in the digital age are happening round the clock, and this is also the reality for the Maltese Islands. One of the more crucial advancements was the €12 million investment within the Malta Financial Services Authority for a more sophisticated and efficient data storage devices.

This how Malta will now push itself to the forefront of this global digital transformation.  

Clayton Bartolo is the Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services and Digital Economy