The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and BMIT Technologies have renewed their collaboration agreement to help members strengthen their digital capabilities and business resilience.
Through the agreement, Malta Chamber members will have access to BMIT’s expertise in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, business continuity and cloud services, including the foundations needed for secure and effective AI adoption.
As businesses become more reliant on digital services, protecting data and maintaining operations through disruption are increasingly important business priorities. Regulatory frameworks such as NIS2 and DORA reinforce this focus for organisations within their scope, with implications for how they manage technology suppliers.
Commenting on the renewed agreement, President of The Malta Chamber, William Spiteri Bailey, said:
“Digital transformation is no longer an option for businesses; it is an essential component of remaining competitive, productive and resilient. Through our renewed collaboration with BMIT, we are bringing together industry expertise and The Malta Chamber’s policy and business network to develop meaningful discussions around the digital priorities that matter most to businesses. We look forward to working together to help Maltese enterprises better understand and harness the opportunities presented by technology.”
BMIT Technologies CEO Christian Sammut said:
“Business leaders need confidence that the technology they rely on can support growth, protect their information and keep their operations running. Building that confidence takes sound infrastructure, effective security and a clear plan for responding to disruption. Our renewed collaboration with The Malta Chamber gives us the opportunity to help members translate these priorities into practical decisions, drawing on BMIT’s experience to strengthen their resilience and make informed choices about technologies such as cloud and AI.”
The renewed agreement further strengthens the longstanding relationship between The Malta Chamber and BMIT and reflects both organisations’ commitment to supporting a forward-looking and digitally enabled business community.
Month: September 2026
BOV Club returns to Freshers’ Week
Bank of Valletta will bring BOV Club closer to students during this year’s Freshers’ Week, offering practical financial information, career conversations and interactive campus activities designed around students’ academic and financial journey.
BOV will be present at ITS, Junior College, Sir M. A. Refalo Sixth Form, Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, MCAST and the University of Malta, where representatives will meet students, discuss their needs and introduce BOV Club products and services relevant to their studies and wider financial journey. Students will also be able to explore career opportunities with the Bank, including its Graduates Programme, through direct conversations with representatives from BOV’s People and Culture function.
Students visiting the BOV Club stand will be able to take part in a quiz focused on the features and benefits of BOV Club, while also being invited to share feedback on the package and their broader student experience. The feedback gathered will help the Bank continue shaping its student proposition around students’ evolving needs. Three participants will be in chance to win one iPhone 17 each. Students taking part in the quiz will also receive a Scratch & Win card, with every card revealing an item of BOV promotional merchandise that can be redeemed immediately at the stand.
This year’s activity will also introduce a new Reflex Challenge at Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, the University of Malta and MCAST Paola. Participants will have 30 seconds to touch as many illuminated sensors as possible, with the highest-scoring participant at each institution receiving a €150 One4All voucher, the student placing second will get €100 One4All voucher and student placing third a €50 One4All voucher. Previous stand-based challenges attracted more than 2,000 participants across two years.
In addition, to continue raising awareness about scams, students will have the opportunity to participate in a scam-awareness quiz. Three participants will be in with a chance of winning a gaming package consisting of an ASUS TUF A16″ FHD Gaming Laptop and JBL Tune 670NC Noise-Cancelling Headphones.
The Bank will also be collaborating with Andrew’s Snack Bar to officially launch the BOV Club Ftira during the Freshers’ Week period. The BOV Club Ftira will also be available as part of Andrew’s menu throughout this period.
Also part of this year’s initiative, the Bank will be offering a limited number of complimentary six-month Times of Malta subscription to help students stay informed about current affairs throughout their academic year. Students can access the offer on a first-come-first-served basis by scanning a QR code at the BOV stand and completing a short registration form, after which they will receive redemption instructions.
Through BOV Club, the Bank continues to invest in long-term relationships with Malta’s student community, combining day-to-day banking support with access to information, digital tools and opportunities that can help young people take confident steps into the next stage of their lives.
BOV Club is designed for eligible students aged between 16 and 30, offering banking products, digital services and financing options that support them through their studies and beyond. Further information about the package, including eligibility criteria and applicable terms and conditions, is available at www.bov.com/bov-club.
The Malta Chamber and EY Malta renew Gold Collaboration Alliance
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and EY Malta have renewed their Gold Collaboration Alliance, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Malta’s business community and contributing to informed national policy discussions.
Through the renewed agreement, EY Malta will leverage its extensive expertise to provide consultancy services and support The Malta Chamber in the development of national policy positions and recommendations.
This collaboration will focus on key areas addressed by The Malta Chamber’s Business Sections and Horizontal Thematic Committees, providing valuable expertise and insights to support the Chamber’s ongoing work in representing the interests of the private sector in national discussions.
The renewed alliance builds on the longstanding relationship between the two organisations and their shared commitment to fostering a competitive, resilient and sustainable business environment. EY Malta has previously supported The Malta Chamber through its expertise in a range of areas relevant to Malta’s economic development and business community.
Commenting on the renewal, William Spiteri Bailey, President of The Malta Chamber, said:
“We are pleased to renew our Gold Collaboration Alliance with EY Malta, strengthening a relationship that continues to bring significant value to The Malta Chamber and the wider business community. At a time when Malta is facing important economic and structural challenges, access to high-quality expertise and evidence-based insights is essential. EY Malta’s contribution will support our Business Sections and Horizontal Thematic Committees in developing well-informed policy positions and recommendations that reflect the realities and needs of businesses operating in Malta.”
Ronald Attard, Country Managing Partner at EY Malta, added:
“This renewed collaboration reflects our shared commitment to Malta’s long-term competitiveness and resilience. By combining The Malta Chamber’s close understanding of the business community with EY Malta’s multidisciplinary expertise, we can help translate evidence-based insights into practical policy recommendations. We look forward to continuing to support the Chamber’s Business Sections and Horizontal Thematic Committees and to contributing constructively to Malta’s economic and policy discussions.”
The renewed collaboration will further facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between EY Malta and The Malta Chamber, supporting the Chamber’s role as a leading voice for the private sector and its engagement in national economic and policy discussions.
The Malta Chamber Presents ‘RESET & LEAD’ Pre-Budget 2027 Document to Prime Minister Robert Abela
The Malta Chamber’s Board of Management, led by President William Spiteri Bailey, met with Prime Minister Robert Abela and several ministers to present the ‘RESET & LEAD’, The Malta Chamber’s Pre-Budget 2027 document.
Containing 150+ proposals, the document is based on six pillars:
• Reforms that initiate structural change
• Transformations prioritising core, value-added productivity
• Measures promoting Excellence and value-add replacing volume-driven expansion
• Standards to reshape business and institutional culture
• Execution anchored in firm legislative foundations and a fair, level playing field
• Good governance to build trust, uphold the rule of law, and ensure efficient use of national resources
In his opening statement, President Spiteri Bailey highlighted a fundamental message: “Governments change. Institutions remain.”
He also stressed that trust has economic value, just as losing it comes with an economic cost. “These are not new messages from The Malta Chamber. We have been communicating them consistently year after year, and we will continue to do so because we believe they are essential to building a stronger, more competitive and sustainable Malta for the future.”
Photo Credits: DOI
BOV and Malta FA strengthen discussion around legal and AFC matters in football
Bank of Valletta and the Malta Football Association (Malta FA) brought together representatives of Malta FA member clubs for a one-day seminar aimed at helping football clubs better understand of the evolving AML obligations, governance expectations, and wider legal and regulatory responsibilities impacting football clubs. The seminar provided participants with insights into both current and emerging compliance requirements, highlighting the importance of strong governance and financial crime prevention within the football sector. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to support clubs in strengthening their control frameworks and ensuring they are well prepared to meet future regulatory and AML compliance expectations.
The seminar was one of the first initiatives, delivered under the recently signed three-year Memorandum of Understanding between the two entities. It reflects a shared commitment to supporting clubs, building on a partnership that has supported Maltese football for more than two decades as the regulatory environment around sport continues to evolve.
The seminar featured sessions led by the Bank’s anti-financial crime specialists and the Malta FA Integrity Officer. They guided participants through key topics including financial crime risks, sanctions, fraud and scams awareness, and governance requirements. They also covered documentation practices and forthcoming EU anti-money laundering obligations, which are expected to bring certain professional football clubs within scope in the coming years.
Opening the event, BOV Group AFC Officer and MLRO Ryan Caruana emphasised the importance of education, awareness and continued collaboration between financial institutions and the sporting community. “This seminar builds on a partnership that goes back many years and gives clubs our practical guidance to better understand their obligations and strengthen their resilience, so they may navigate in a changing regulatory landscape with confidence. By sharing our expertise, we want to support clubs strengthen their resilience, not only in meeting regulatory expectations, but also in protecting their organisations, their members and contribute to a stronger wider football community.”
Mr Caruana noted that stronger AML governance and effective AML risk management are increasingly important for all organisations that handle funds, manage relationships and serve their communities. As a leading financial services provider, BOV remains committed to supporting clubs’ education, regulatory preparedness, and responsible financial resilience.
Dr Herman Mula, Malta FA Legal, Integrity and Prosecutor, explained that sound procedures, proper documentation, transparency and good governance are becoming increasingly important for football clubs. “The management of a football club can no longer be viewed solely as a sporting matter. The decisions taken by those managing a sports organisation can have serious consequences, which is why procedures, documentation, transparency and good governance are becoming increasingly important.”
Dr Mula explained that such sessions do not only aim to gain a better understanding of the rules, regulations and risks, but also to build a culture in which sound decisions are made with knowledge, responsibility and through the correct procedures. We will also explain the new reality of Sports Private Limited Liability Companies, a topic which further highlights how the structure and governance of sport are evolving, and how those responsible must be prepared for these developments. He went on to thank the Bank for its support and collaboration, as well as the individuals within the Malta FA who made the seminar possible.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of BOV and the Malta FA to supporting stronger governance, regulatory awareness and integrity across Maltese football. It also aligns with BOV’s broader focus on education, responsible banking and community engagement, ensuring that organisations within the community are better prepared to respond to emerging risks and responsibilities. Further initiatives are expected to follow under the ongoing three-year collaboration between the Bank and the Malta FA.
First edition of the BOV social week turns employee action into community impact
Bank of Valletta, in collaboration with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), hosted its first-ever BOV Social Week, bringing employees together for a week of meaningful action in support of initiatives centred on people, communities and the environment. Held between the 7th and 11th September, the week included blood donation, the collection of school essentials for children living in residential care, and volunteering.
The week opened with employees leaving their desks to assist BirdLife Malta’s conservation work at the Għadira Nature Reserve. This activity reflected the Bank’s commitment to giving back through volunteering. In the first eight months of this year, 400 employees benefited from the Bank’s one day of volunteering leave, contributing up to 3,200 hours to NGOs working across social and environmental sectors.
BOV Social Week also saw around 50 employees step forward to donate blood, most of them for the first time, at the Blood Donation Mobile Unit stationed outside the BOV Centre in Santa Venera.
Children from Fondazzjoni Sebħ and St Joseph Home spent an afternoon at the BOV Centre’s Internal Street during an interactive workshop organised in collaboration with the NGOs Żibel and Nature Trust. Employees also donated a range of school essentials, which were presented to Fondazzjoni Sebħ and St Joseph Home by Chief Operations Officer (COO) Ernest Agius during the closing activity of the BOV Social Week. The response was so generous that additional items will be donated to other organisations working with children.
As part of the week, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Farrugia and Chief Operations Officer Ernest Agius visited Karl Vella Foundation and Id-Dar tal-Providenza, two organisations whose work touches many lives. The visits offered an opportunity to meet the people behind these organisations, gain a deeper understanding of their work, and reaffirm BOV’s commitment to causes that bring care, dignity and support to the community.
Commenting on Bank of Valletta’s first-ever Social Week, the CEO and COO thanked all employees who took part and collectively helped extend the Bank’s support to people and communities. They said, “Social Week provided another opportunity for us at BOV to give back to society and support different entities. It strengthened our commitment to causes that touch lives, strengthen communities and help protect the environment around us.”
BOV Social Week was coordinated by the BOV Corporate Social Responsibility Team, led by Charles Azzopardi, Head of CSR, Events and Business Alliances. He thanked his team for bringing the week together and acknowledged the strong response from employees, whose participation helped make the first edition a success.
The Malta Chamber launches Pre-Budget 2027 proposals: RESET and LEAD
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry today launched its Pre-Budget 2027 document, titled RESET and LEAD, setting out more than 150 proposals aimed at driving structural reform across Malta’s economy and institutions. The document was presented by The Malta Chamber CEO Dr Marthese Portelli, with a welcoming address by the President of The Malta Chamber William Spiteri Bailey.
VIEW THE FULL DOCUMENT HERE
A call for honesty and courage
Opening the press conference, President Spiteri Bailey said that Malta had reached a point where “adjusting around the edges is no longer enough,” and that the country needed “the courage to RESET what is not working and LEAD through the realities we face.”
While acknowledging Malta’s economic resilience, the President was direct about the challenges still facing the country: infrastructure under pressure, weak productivity, persistent bureaucracy, energy dependence, and damaged trust in some institutions. “Not everything is well,” the Malta Chamber said, stressing that raising these issues is “not talking Malta down” but a necessary condition for fixing them: “You cannot fix a problem that you are unwilling to admit exists.”
The Malta Chamber linked Malta’s energy exposure directly to policy choices of recent years, arguing that had part of the substantial sums spent on indiscriminate fuel and energy subsidies instead been directed toward renewables, efficiency and storage, “Malta would today be less exposed to international energy shocks.” On the labour market, the Malta Chamber President called for a shift “from volume to value,” paired with a more efficient work permit system so that businesses can make better use of the workers already in Malta.
Governance featured prominently in Spiteri Bailey’s address, who insisted that institutions “exist to serve the people — not Governments, not political parties, not individuals,” and called for regulators to regulate, enforcement authorities to enforce, and courts to deliver justice within a reasonable time. “Good governance is economic policy,” President Spiteri Bailey said, warning that “trust has economic value. And the loss of trust has an economic cost.”
President Spiteri Bailey closed by framing RESET and LEAD as a national, not a partisan, agenda: “This is not a Labour position. It is not a Nationalist position. It must be Malta’s position.”
150+ proposals for structural change
Presenting the substance of the proposals, CEO Dr Marthese Portelli set out The Malta Chamber’s case that the “time for incremental adjustments has passed,” pointing to an uncomfortable reality: too many critical proposals raised in previous years remain unaddressed, delayed or stalled.
The presentation grounded this call for reform in economic data. Between 2015 and 2025, Malta’s Gross Value Added grew by 81.9%, but the Malta Chamber’s analysis shows this growth was driven overwhelmingly by an expanding workforce (68.9%), with only a modest contribution from higher value-added sectors (9.9%) and productivity improvements (3.1%). Equally important to that, The Malta Chamber noted that compensation growth has consistently outpaced labour productivity growth in recent years, and that government debt has risen sharply since 2019 while productivity per person employed has remained broadly flat — trends projected to continue into 2026, with compensation set to rise 4.4% against productivity growth of just 0.1%, compared to a projected EU average of 1.0%.
The Malta Chamber Pre-Budget 2027 document is based on six pillars:
• Reforms that initiate structural change
• Transformations prioritising core, value-added productivity
• Measures promoting Excellence and value-add replacing volume-driven expansion
• Standards to reshape business and institutional culture
• Execution anchored in firm legislative foundations and a fair, level playing field
• Good governance to build trust, uphold the rule of law, and ensure efficient use of national resources
The 150+ proposals are organised into two broad sections.
The first addresses economic and sectoral priorities which need to be executed by end-2027, including funding and investment support and taxation; human resources, education and skills; technology and AI adoption; infrastructure (spatial planning and construction, mobility, energy, water and waste management); value enhancement in tourism; addressing state-induced market distortions and unfair competition; Malta’s island-state and EU-related challenges; and internationalisation.
The second section focuses on national and institutional reforms kickstarting in 2027, whose execution would spread over the rest of the legislature; covering planning and construction, mobility and transportation, energy, waste management, digital transformation, education and skills alignment, public procurement, pensions reform, and public good governance and parliamentary reform.
A shared national agenda
The contribution by The Malta Chamber provides an evidence-based call for Government to move from strategy to execution because “The Malta Chamber has spoken about these things for long enough. Now we need the courage to RESET, LEAD and, above all, execute.”
BOV inaugurates second Home Finance Hub in Gżira
Bank of Valletta has inaugurated its second Home Finance Hub in Gżira, extending its specialised and personalised approach to home financing and bringing personalisation, one of the Bank’s key strategic priorities, to life for customers. Serving the Centre-East Region, the new Hub forms part of BOV’s wider plan to establish four dedicated Home Finance Hubs across Malta. This Home Finance Hub is situated in Triq ix-Xatt in Gżira, next door to the Bank’s branch.
The initiative recognises that buying a home is one of the most important financial and personal decisions a person can make. Through its Home Finance Hubs, BOV is giving customers direct access to specialist expertise, clearer guidance and dedicated support throughout their home-buying journey, with a process designed to be simpler, more transparent and more responsive to individual needs.
The Gżira Home Finance Hub was officially inaugurated by CEO Kenneth Farrugia, in the presence of Director Diane Bugeja, Chief Personal & Wealth Officer Simon Azzopardi, Chief Commercial Officer Simon Grech, Chief Operations Officer Ernest Agius, and Chief People & Culture Officer Ray Debattista. The Hub has been serving customers since May 2026 and builds on the experience gained through the successful launch of the Bank’s first Home Finance Hub in Mosta earlier this year.
Speaking during the inauguration, Kenneth Farrugia explained, “Personalisation is a key strategic priority for Bank of Valletta because no two customers are the same. The Home Finance Hub model reflects this philosophy in a very practical way. Purchasing a home is far more than a financial transaction. It is a significant life milestone, and customers rightly expect support that reflects their individual circumstances, aspirations and needs. Our ambition is not simply to open new locations, but to create a better experience for our customers. Through these Hubs, we are bringing specialist expertise closer to customers, providing greater clarity throughout the process and strengthening ownership across every stage of the journey. This is how we translate strategy into meaningful improvements that customers can see, feel and value.”
The Home Finance Hub model complements the Bank’s Branch Network by bringing home loan specialists and supporting teams into a more coordinated operating model. Stronger collaboration between branches, Consumer Finance, Credit and other supporting functions is intended to provide a smoother, more consistent experience, reduce avoidable delays and improve communication with customers.
Simon Azzopardi, Chief Personal & Wealth Officer, said, “The Home Finance Hubs are where strategy becomes visible to customers. They enable us to offer specialist support while remaining closely connected to the wider customer journey. Customers want clarity, reassurance and confidence that they have the right support at the right moment. The Hub model allows us to deliver that in a more focused and effective way, combining specialist expertise with a personal approach.”
Addressing guests, Director Diane Bugeja highlighted the importance of continued investment in areas that have a direct impact on customers’ lives. “Financing a home is one of the most significant decisions many people will ever make. Customers are looking not only for competitive solutions but also for guidance, transparency and confidence that their application is being managed with care and professionalism. The Home Finance Hub model strengthens our ability to offer that consistently while reinforcing the trust customers place in the Bank.”
Customers visiting the Gżira Home Finance Hub can discuss first-time buyer home loans, property purchase financing, buy-to-let financing, refinancing of existing home loans, affordability assessments and property-related financial planning. The Hub also provides guidance on Government incentives, insurance requirements and other aspects related to home ownership.
The Gżira Home Finance Hub is the second of four dedicated Home Finance Hubs being established by BOV. Through this strategy, the Bank is strengthening its position as a leading provider of home financing in Malta while continuing to invest in personalised service, specialist expertise and stronger customer relationships at every stage of the journey.
Bank of Valletta celebrates the people behind its success at annual awards ceremony
Bank of Valletta brought together hundreds of colleagues for the BOV People Awards, its annual celebration recognising employees and teams whose dedication, professionalism and ideas continue to drive the Bank forward.
The ceremony recognised outstanding achievements across several award categories, while also celebrating the collective effort behind the Bank’s continued transformation and growth, from customer-facing teams to colleagues in operations, technology, risk and governance.
Addressing attendees, Bank of Valletta CEO Kenneth Farrugia said the Bank’s greatest strength has always been its people. “Every milestone we achieve as a Bank is built on the commitment, talent and determination of our colleagues. Whether they are supporting customers, driving innovation, managing risk, delivering projects or enabling our operations, they make a meaningful difference every day. The BOV People Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate that contribution and thank the people who help make Bank of Valletta the trusted institution it is today.”
“As we look to the future, our success will increasingly depend on our ability to work as one Bank. Greater collaboration, faster decision-making and a willingness to embrace new ways of working will be essential if we are to deliver on our strategic ambitions. By leveraging the collective strength of our people and teams, we can achieve far more together than any one function can achieve alone.”
Mr Farrugia added that the awards also reflect the strong culture across the organisation. “What makes me proud is not only what our colleagues achieve, but how they achieve it. The stories behind these awards speak of teamwork, integrity, professionalism, innovation and a genuine commitment to doing the right thing. These are the qualities that define our culture and position us strongly for the future.”
Chief People and Culture Officer Ray Debattista described the awards as a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising and investing in people. “At Bank of Valletta, success starts with our people. Creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to grow is fundamental to our long-term success. The People Awards celebrate excellence, but they also celebrate the culture we are building together, one where contribution is recognised and people are encouraged to reach their full potential.”
“Year after year, the talent across the organisation stands out. The dedication, quality of work and passion our people bring to their roles reinforce why Bank of Valletta continues to be recognised as one of Malta’s leading employers,” he concluded.
This year’s event also placed colleagues at the heart of the celebration through the People’s Choice Awards, giving employees the opportunity to recognise peers who made a meaningful impact through their work, attitude and dedication.
The BOV People Awards form part of the Bank’s wider commitment to employee engagement, professional development and well-being, supporting a workplace where people can build rewarding careers while contributing to the Bank’s long-term success.