Global and domestic industry opportunities

FinanceMalta 10th annual conference

This year’s FinanceMalta’s annual conference will discuss the prospects and opportunities brought about by global events and technology. Entitled “Malta’s Financial Services Industry – Taking the Next Quantum Leap”, the conference will address issues such as the implications and opportunities brought about by Brexit and the implications of this development in the context of the Commonwealth, Fintech, Crowdfunding, Blockchain, as well as a number of other global and domestic industry-related developments. The conference will start with a pre-conference networking event on 17th May and a full day conference on 18 May at the Hilton Conference Centre.

Commenting on the annual conference, FinanceMalta Chairman Kenneth Farrugia said, “During this year’s conference we will be discussing the challenges and opportunities of the financial services sector in its drive to take a quantum leap and strengthen its position in the current financial sectors, but also to focus on the new emerging sectors that will support the business. However, for this to happen, we need to be innovative to harness the opportunities brought about by technology.”

The conference starts with a welcome address by Mr Farrugia, followed by a talk by the Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy Minister Dr Emmanuel Mallia entitled “Malta – The New Frontier in Financial services?” Lord Marland of Odstock will then take the stage with a presentation on “Leveraging the Commonwealth’s Economic and Business Potential”, which will be followed by a keynote address from Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The event will also include an address on ‘The UK, Brexit and Malta: Implications and Opportunities for the UK and Malta.’

The second part of the morning session will be dedicated to the ever-increasing demand for online financial services, where the debate will focus on the new technological opportunities brought about by Blockchain, Fintech, Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency. This session will be delivered by Steve Tendon, Managing Director of TameFlow Consulting Limited and an expert in the field. This topic will be discussed in further detail in relation to its local impact during the subsequent panel discussion entitled “Blockchain and the Maltese Economy – A Testing Ground Opportunity?”

The morning will end with the stimulating presentation on “The Resurgence of Securitisation – Leveraging Malta’s Opportunities” by Camilleri Preziosi Advocates partner, Dr Louis Degabriele, which will also be followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on the topic.

The afternoon sessions will be taken up by three workshops each tackling a separate industry, namely “International Pensions Business – Growth opportunities”, “Creating an environment for entrepreneurs through crowdfunding, private equity and venture capital business”, and “Malta’s Fintech Strategy”; these will run concurrently allowing delegates to delve into their preferred topic. Next, KPMG partner, Juanita Bencini, will address all delegates on “The business and operational implications of the 4th AML Directive”, while Ms Nadine Lia will follow with her session on the “Family Business Act – Malta’s proposition for international family business”. The conference will be brought to a close by Minister of Finance Edward Scicluna.

The main sponsor for this year’s conference is the Managing Partner Group (MPG), an asset management group that specialises in structuring, managing and administering mutual funds, securitisations and collective investment schemes. Other conference sponsors include Swissquote Financial Services (Malta) Ltd, Bank of Valletta, and VacancyCentre, while the pre-conference networking event is sponsored by Castille Resources. Further information and registration for the FinanceMalta 10th Annual Conference can be found at www.financemalta.org/conference2017.