Month: November 2025

The HSBC Malta Foundation and JA Malta Foundation, formerly known as Young Enterprise Malta, are proud to announce a renewed strategic partnership that will see HSBC commit €150,000 over three years. This investment, amounting to €50,000 annually, will support JA Malta’s mission to empower young people through entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability education.

This renewed collaboration reflects a shared vision between the two organisations: to equip Malta’s youth with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in today’s evolving economy, while fostering a strong sense of social and environmental responsibility.

Through this partnership, the HSBC Malta Foundation is supporting some of JA Malta’s most impactful programmes and initiatives. These include the Company Programme, where students aged 15 to 18 set up and run their own mini-companies, and the StartUp Programme, which gives university students the opportunity to develop and launch their own business ideas in a real-world setting.

In addition to these core programmes, the foundation is also supporting wider entrepreneurship education initiatives focused on financial capability and work readiness. Sustainability and ESG-themed workshops and events are also a key part of this effort, helping to embed environmentally conscious thinking throughout JA Malta’s educational framework.

A major highlight of this collaboration is the introduction of two new national awards, fully funded by HSBC Malta Foundation. The HSBC Green Entrepreneurship Award, designed for post-secondary students taking part in the Company Programme, encouraging innovative and eco-friendly business solutions. Meanwhile, the HSBC ESG Sustainability Award, part of the StartUp Programme at tertiary level, recognises student teams that successfully integrate environmental, social and governance principles into their business models. The winning team from this category will also be eligible for up to €10,000 in seed funding if they choose to continue developing their idea beyond the programme.

Another important milestone in this partnership is the establishment of the JA Malta Centre of Excellence, a national initiative developed in collaboration with the Government of Malta and the Ministry for Education. This initiative serves as a new impetus for entrepreneurship and financial literacy education, offering accredited training to educators through a University of Malta-approved course. It empowers teachers to embed financial and entrepreneurial education across the curriculum, while giving schools access to global initiatives like Global Money Week and the opportunity to gain national recognition as a centre of excellence.

Matthew Caruana, CEO of JA Malta Foundation, said the renewed agreement marks an exciting new chapter. “HSBC Malta Foundation has been a key partner for decades. This agreement goes beyond teaching students how to run a business. It’s about shaping responsible leaders who understand the value of sustainability from the very beginning. These new awards are not just prizes — they are a call to action for our young changemakers.”

Geoffrey Fichte, CEO at HSBC Bank Malta and Chairman for the HSBC Malta Foundation, echoed the importance of investing in Malta’s youth. “At HSBC, we believe in supporting Malta’s future through our young people. These programmes give students the chance to develop a mindset that blends innovation, responsibility and leadership. Sustainability is not a trend — it’s an essential part of how we move forward across all industries, and we are proud to play a role in helping students embrace that mindset early on.”

This strengthened partnership builds on years of successful collaboration and sets the stage for even greater national impact. HSBC Malta Foundation looks forward to supporting more initiatives with JA Malta in the coming years, further reinforcing its commitment to youth development and sustainability-focused education in Malta.

Fundacion MAPFRE, in collaboration with the BOV Foundation, proudly launched the Fundacion MAPFRE Pension Guide in Malta during a distinguished event held at Verdala Palace. The initiative marks a significant step forward in promoting financial literacy and long-term financial wellbeing among Maltese households.

The event opened with a welcome address by Elvira Vega, CEO of Fundacion MAPFRE, who shared the foundation’s global vision for financial education. “At Fundacion MAPFRE, we believe that financial literacy is a cornerstone of social progress. Our Pension Guide is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future,” Vega stated. “We are honoured to partner with the BOV Foundation in Malta to bring this resource to life.”

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Gordon Cordina, Chairman of Bank of Valletta, who explored the evolving macroeconomic context for pensions in Malta, highlighting the importance of proactive planning in an ageing society.

“Ensuring sustainable and adequate pensions for Malta’s future requires forward-looking reforms, greater private savings, and a collaborative approach. By learning from international experience and encouraging innovation, we can secure dignity and stability for tomorrow’s retirees” said Dr Cordina

A key highlight of the event was the presentation of research findings on “Attitudes and Behaviours towards Pensions Among Maltese Households”, conducted by Daniel Magrin, BOV Head of Marketing & Product Lifecycle Management and Petra Ellul Mercer founder of CapableMind. The study revealed insightful trends and challenges in pension awareness and preparedness across different demographics.

The event concluded with a dynamic panel discussion featuring leading voices in the financial sector, including  Kenneth Farrugia, CEO of Bank of Valletta,  Elvira Lopez de Lara Merida, CEO of MAPFRE MSV Life; Etienne Sciberras, CEO of MAPFRE Middlesea; alongside Daniel Magrin and Petra Ellul Mercer. The panel explored strategies to enhance pension engagement and the role of institutions in fostering a culture of financial responsibility.

This launch represents a collaborative effort to address one of Malta’s most pressing financial education needs and reflects a shared commitment to building a more financially resilient society.

The HSBC Malta Foundation is proud to announce its support for the launch of a new educational music video celebrating the Maltese Honey Bee, Malta’s National Insect. Produced by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee (KNM Foundation), the video was officially launched on the 24 September, marking the first anniversary of the Maltese Honey Bee being declared Malta’s National Insect. A celebratory event will be held in December at St Ġorġ Preca College Valletta Primary School to mark the release.

The music video features a brand-new song entitled In-Naħla u Sħabha (L-Għanja tal-Ispeċi Nazzjonali), which translates to The Bee and Her Friends (The Song of the National Species). It is available on the YouTube channel of the KNM Foundation. The video forms part of a wider educational initiative aimed at raising awareness among young students about the importance of our national species and biodiversity. It completes a trilogy of educational songs developed by the KNM Foundation to highlight environmental and cultural themes linked to Malta’s unique biodiversity.

Glenn Bugeja, Corporate Sustainability Manager at HSBC Malta, commented: “Through our support for this project, the HSBC Malta Foundation is helping to inspire a new generation to value and protect Malta’s natural heritage. Educating children about the importance of the Maltese Honey Bee is not only an investment in biodiversity, but also in the future well-being of our communities.”

Abner Joe Buttigieg, on behalf of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, added: “We are immensely grateful to the HSBC Malta Foundation for their support. Thanks to their sponsorship, we were able to complete the final video in this important educational series, ensuring that every song now has a visual companion to better engage and educate children about the vital role of our national species.”

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is a non-profit organisation committed to the protection of Malta’s endemic honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera ruttneri, through advocacy, education, and research initiatives.

The video prominently features the HSBC Malta Foundation logo alongside that of the main sponsor, reflecting their joint commitment to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship among Malta’s younger generations.

Bank of Valletta will be hosting the first-ever Investor Days on the 3rd and 4th November in Gozo and Malta, respectively. These events provide shareholders, customers, and members of the financial community with a direct platform to engage with BOV’s leadership team on its strategic direction, performance, and future outlook of the Bank.

The sessions will include presentations by the Bank’s leadership team, including BOV Chairperson, Dr Gordon Cordina, CEO Kenneth Farrugia, and Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Cardona. In addition, several of the Bank’s Executive Committee will participate in a panel discussion, covering performance highlights, digital transformation advancements, customer service initiatives, and progress across sustainability and governance commitments.

Speaking ahead of the events, Dr Gordon Cordina highlighted the importance of dialogue in driving trust and long-term value. “Investor Days reflect our ongoing commitment to accountability and direct engagement with our stakeholders. These exchanges are essential to ensuring alignment between the Bank’s strategic trajectory and the expectations of those who place their confidence in us,” Dr Cordina said.

Kenneth Farrugia emphasised how the Investor Days reinforce the Bank’s forward-looking agenda.  “This is a pivotal moment to share the progress we are making as we invest in our people, technology, and operations to shape a more modern, customer-centric Bank. We look forward to engaging with our investor community as we continue to deliver on our strategic priorities,” Mr Farrugia said.

Kevin Cardona noted the importance of transparency in communicating financial performance and strategy. “These discussions provide clarity and context to our results, ensuring our stakeholders understand the key drivers behind our performance and how we are positioned for sustainable growth,” Mr Cardona commented.

The Malta session on 4th November will be live-streamed at 1700 hours. Participants may register their interest in participating by clicking on this link https://bov.jotform.com/253003711853045

These Investor Days mark the first in a planned series of ongoing engagements between the Bank and its investor community. The Bank remains committed to maintaining open, transparent communication channels, and ensuring that shareholders and stakeholders alike are kept informed about the Bank’s progress, priorities, and performance. The Bank looks forward to continue this dialogue in the months and years ahead.