Since its incorporation in 1996 as a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank Malta plc, HSBC Asset Management (Malta) Limited has been a cornerstone of the bank’s wealth management strategy. Licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority as a UCITS Management Company, HSBC Asset Management (Malta) Limited has consistently supported both retail and institutional investors, adapting through various market and economic cycles and evolving investment needs over the years.

This anniversary follows a significant milestone for the company, having surpassed €1 billion in assets under management and distribution in December 2025, a clear endorsement of its clients’ trust in the company’s disciplined investment approach.

Over the years, HSBC Asset Management (Malta) Limited’s solutions have evolved alongside Malta’s financial landscape, offering a comprehensive range of investment products managed through a word-class disciplined investment and risk management approach adopted by its accredited Malta-based team. As of 31st December 2025, the company’s flagship funds, the Malta Government Bond Fund, Malta Bond Fund, and Maltese Assets Fund have delivered strong three-year cumulative returns of 7.7%, 10.7%, and 15.5% respectively, outperforming their respective peer funds in the local market. Meanwhile, the internationally focused funds managed in Malta, such as the International Bond Fund and the Equity Growth Fund, also achieved robust returns of 13.6% and 34.7%, respectively over the same period.

HSBC Asset Management (Malta) Limited continues to broaden its offering, including the HSBC Global Funds II ICAV Euro Fixed Term Bond 2028 Fund, open for subscription until the 30^th of September 2026, which provides access to a diversified bond portfolio and locked returns for customers with a short-term investment objective. All its products are available through the HSBC Malta branch network, where clients benefit from complimentary financial planning advice.

Lisa Vella, CEO of HSBC Asset Management (Malta) Limited, commented: “Reaching our 30^th anniversary is a proud moment for all of us at AMMT. This milestone reflects the trust our clients place in us earned by the pristine reputation we have steadily built over the years thanks to the dedication of our talented team. We remain committed to delivering robust investment solutions and to continue supporting our clients’ financial ambitions”.

For more information, please visit: HSBC Asset Management Malta – Individual Investor.

The JCI European Conference is more than an event. It is a platform that connects young people committed to creating positive change in their communities through leadership development, entrepreneurship, international cooperation and social impact. Over four days, participants took part in keynote sessions, workshops, panel discussions, debating and public speaking competitions, networking activities and cultural exchanges designed to inspire action and foster collaboration across borders.

This year’s edition marked a significant milestone for the organisation as, for the first time, the event was organised directly by the JCI Headquarters rather than by a National Organisation. Switzerland, Finland and Germany emerged as the top-represented countries during the conference.

Among the keynote speakers were Felipe Paullier, UN Youth Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, who addressed delegates on the importance of youth leadership in shaping sustainable and inclusive societies, Monika Froehler, CEO of the Ban Ki-Moon Foundation, who shared insights on global responsibility and collaborative leadership, and Aleyna Sayin, Global President of AIESEC International, who spoke about empowering young people through international engagement and leadership opportunities.

One of the highlights of the conference was the official awards ceremony recognising outstanding projects, local organisations and individual members from across Europe. The awards celebrated excellence in leadership, entrepreneurship, sustainability, community impact and international cooperation.

Among the major recognitions presented during the conference, JCI Innerschwyz from Switzerland was named Most Outstanding Local Organisation, while Christoph Preisinger from JCI Switzerland received the award for Most Outstanding New Member. Laura Kotipohja from JCI Finland was recognised as Most Outstanding Local President, while Tuğçe Zipperer from JCI Germany received the award for Most Outstanding Member.

The Most Outstanding New Local Organisation award was presented to JCI Sibiu in Romania, while the Most Outstanding Local Project award went to JCI Çankaya in Türkiye for the “JCNetwork Business Circle” initiative. Other notable award-winning projects included “Peace Makers Academy” by JCI France, “Handispensables: tous indispensables” by JCI France, and the “19th Crossroads International Short Film Festival” by JCI Türkiye.

The conference also celebrated excellence in debating and public speaking competitions. JCI Netherlands won the English Debating Championship, JCI Switzerland secured both the French and German Debating Championships, while Katia Alexandrescu from JCI Romania was named Public Speaking Champion.

Beyond the conference programme, delegates also experienced Málaga’s culture, hospitality and vibrant atmosphere through a series of social and cultural activities designed to strengthen friendships and international connections among members.

During the closing ceremony, delegates looked ahead to the future of the organisation’s European gatherings. The next JCI European Conference will take place from 2 to 5 June 2027 in The Hague, Netherlands. It was also officially announced that the 2028 JCI European Conference will be hosted in Angers, France, under the name “Anjoy”.

Designed for full-time students aged between 16 and 30, the BOV Club Package serves as a practical introduction to banking and financial services. From receiving stipends and managing day-to-day spending to accessing digital banking services, the package is built around the needs and expectations of today’s students. Members benefit from access to debit and credit cards, internet and mobile banking platforms, and digital wallet solutions, giving them the flexibility to manage their finances anytime, anywhere.

Beyond everyday banking, BOV Club offers students added value through preferential rates on selected lending options, including financing for further studies or the purchase of a vehicle. Students can also explore longer-term financial planning through regular savings plans as well as investment opportunities in stocks and shares, allowing them to start building healthy financial habits from an early stage.

The additional €10 on top of the €60 welcome gift will be credited once the first stipend is received in the newly opened BOV account. Students who apply after this period will still benefit from the €60 welcome gift, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

Applications for the BOV Club Student Package can be started online through https://join.bov.com, offering a convenient and straightforward onboarding process. Students will only be required to visit their preferred Bank of Valletta branch for the final sign-off in order to activate their account.

The BOV Club Student Package is available to all full-time students who will be starting a new post-secondary or tertiary scholastic year after the summer recess. Further information about the package and its benefits is available at https://www.bov.com/bov-club.

The BOV savings account is a core product forming part of the BOV Club package. The account is denominated in Euro and currently pays no interest. No minimum amount is required to open the account, and deposits can be withdrawn anytime. Terms and conditions apply. All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria, credit approval by the Bank and a credit agreement. The term of the loan must not go beyond retirement age.

My opening line is going to sound like one of those standard ‘why did the chicken cross the road?’ jokes.

Why did two Polish tourists film themselves driving in a reckless manner and then post it on social media “for a laugh”…?  Answer: Because they thought they could.

They were quickly caught through CCTV footage and arrested, charged with driving on the wrong side of the road, exceeding the speed limit, ignoring no-entry signs and making illegal U-turns as well as of uploading footage of reckless driving online. Everyone on the road that day can thank God they escaped being a victim of this dangerous prank. 

The brothers live in Germany, a nation which is notorious for its strict rules and regulations, and a population which obeys the law religiously. I highly doubt they would have tried these antics in the country where they are based.  Unfortunately, Malta by now probably has the opposite reputation throughout Europe – I imagine that the word of mouth advertisement is ‘go to Malta, where anything goes’.  

We see it every summer with drunk students causing havoc in residential areas, preventing people from getting any sleep. We see it in our streets, beaches and even shops where half-dressed tourists walk around, so nonchalant and unperturbed.  We see it in the way our monuments are treated, with people climbing and posing on them for their Instagram.  I’m not saying this anti-social behaviour during the tourist season only happens here, but as the powers that be keep pushing for an increased volume in tourism, the probability of more mayhem because of the type of visitors we are attracting is going to likewise increase.  

More pertinently, when a country does not enforce its own laws, either because the situation is out of control or because the attitude of “u iva, mhux xorta” is too entrenched in our psyche, this is the result.  How many times have we seen people using their mobiles while driving?  They all know it’s against the law; they all know there is a hefty fine and they can lose points on your licence, yet they persist.  It’s either the thrill of living dangerously in the belief that “I won’t get caught” or else it’s simply a deliberate flouting of the rules because rules are meant for other people, not me.

As we go about our daily lives, we often forget that the millions of tourists traipsing through Malta are also watching us and our behaviour. Visiting another country is like peeking through the glass of an aquarium to observe sea creatures with an unabashed curiosity – oh look, they double park simply to buy a couple of pastizzi.  Oh look,  children are not securely fastened with seat belts but are romping around in the back seat. Oh, how interesting, they are telling us to take out the right rubbish bag at our Air b ’n’ b, yet we notice that the locals are not following this rule.  I could go on and on with what seem like minor infringements on a daily basis, but the list is endless. 

We cannot expect others to respect our country if we do not respect it ourselves.  This not only holds true for tourists but also for foreign nationals who come here for work or study.  When you re-locate, you take your cues on the way a country operates from what is going on around you.  Ask any Maltese person who has emigrated and they will tell you the same thing – you quickly learn the do’s and don’ts through observation and by what you are told.  “This is the way things are done here, this is the law”, becomes a maxim which rings in your ears and you have to follow it because all around you, everyone is following it.  It is essential for social order and simple civility and without it, you get anarchy. We are teetering on the brink of that already. 

It is for this reason that I think that the recent legal notice that non-residents will be facing on-the-spot-fines for breaking the law while in Malta should be amended. Why just non-residents? Why don’t we start the ball rolling by clamping down on our fellow Maltese, many of whom regularly defy any attempt to do things correctly?  While this legal notice is a positive step, it is another example of pointing the finger towards ‘the foreigner’ or ‘the tourist’ as the source of all our problems, which is only fanning the flames of xenophobia.

Whether its noise pollution to littering to putting out the wrong bag, the Maltese are equally guilty of ignoring the relevant regulations.  If your neighbour regularly disturbs your peace with loud music or daily shouting matches, you would be very lucky to get any officer of the law to knock on their door with a warning. The police are simply too swamped and neighbourly disputes are often the last thing on their list.  So if LESA officers are going to be authorised to issue fines to tourists for causing a disturbance, why not extend it to such issues as noisy, disruptive neighbours too?  Why are we only picking on easy targets like tourists when lawless, unruly behaviour can be seen everywhere you look by the Maltese themselves?  

After all, when even the highest people in the land have behaved in a manner which signals that ‘laws are meant to be broken’, it is pretty rich to then be shocked when some visitors are not law-abiding.

Meanwhile, in what looks like a lame attempt to soothe the ire of voters whose resentment against non-Maltese nationals is at an all time high, Robert Abela hit upon the bright idea of openly stating that he had found a way to leave thousands of foreign workers out of the plan to give workers a €1,000 yearly “super bonus”.  Could he be any more shameless in pandering to those who are bigoted (who, right on cue, openly applauded him)?  

It’s funny how it’s always “the foreigners” who are to blame for our woes (they use our free public transport! They use our free health care! Their kids have free schooling!). Yet those who gloat about our booming economy under Labour and simultaneously gripe about over-population, cannot seem to put 2 + 2 together.  

Never mind about dangerous construction, here’s another cheque 

The proposals by the PL if re-elected are now probably running into the billions – the daily announcements have become so preposterous that it feels like this administration is on some kind of manic high.  

In between all these promises of more largesse, on Thursday night ten families living near a Naxxar construction site were told to evacuate after safety concerns were raised when the foundations of a multi-storey development suddenly gave way.

But don’t worry if a next-door building site causes structural damage to your property or, who knows, causes your roof to cave in as you’re watching the Eurovision.  Absolutely. No. Need.To. Panic. That’s what the developer told them anyway. And besides, the PM has promised us so many freebies and grants, making sure to tick the box of every single demographic, giving away money to buy larger cars, to invest in restaurants and of course the above-mentioned super bonus, we should just shut up and say thank you. 

So don’t you bother your pretty little head that the sacrifices you made to buy your own property may come to zilch because it all comes tumbling down.  

Why are you getting so worked up? Your cheque’s in the mail.

The organisation is strengthening its therapeutic and developmental offering through new clinical programmes, beginning with the Parent Empowerment Programme — a family-focused initiative supporting young children with communication, behaviour, early development and daily routines, while giving parents practical guidance and confidence.

Formerly known as Ronald McDonald House Charities Malta, the organisation will now operate as Ronald McDonald House Malta. Alongside the name change, it has introduced a new visual identity and a new unifying message – “Family Stays” – reflecting its focus on keeping families close and supported when it matters most.

While the organisation’s look has evolved, its mission remains unchanged: providing essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote health and well-being for children across Malta and Gozo.

Ronald McDonald House Malta opened its Learning Centre in Qawra in 2019, creating a fully accessible space where children and young people can access specialist learning, therapeutic and developmental support, in collaboration with professionals, NGOs and volunteers.

Recognised as an autism-friendly space, the Learning Centre expanded in 2025 with the addition of a dedicated Motor Sensory Room, giving children with movement and sensory needs a calm place to explore, learn and build essential everyday skills. The Learning Centre also includes consultation rooms, a multi-purpose activity area, learning kitchen, and training facilities.

In 2025 alone, Ronald McDonald House Malta supported 1,810 children and young people, delivering more than 2,177 hours of support through 640 sessions. The organisation also worked alongside 26 NGOs and entities, while engaging 1,377 professionals and volunteers in its programmes.

Martin Xuereb, Chairperson of Ronald McDonald House Malta, said: “This new identity reflects how Ronald McDonald House Malta continues to evolve while staying true to the purpose that has guided our work from the beginning. Our focus remains on ensuring that children and families facing difficult circumstances receive practical support, reassurance, and access to services that make a meaningful difference in their everyday lives.”

He added: “The refreshed brand helps us communicate more clearly who we are and what we do locally. It gives us a stronger platform to raise awareness, deepen community understanding, and grow the partnerships that allow us to support more families across Malta and Gozo.”
For more information, visit www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.mt

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is a flagship pilot initiative that addresses Europe’s innovation gap by providing tailored support to startups with strong commercialisation potential. The Malta edition focuses on startups with solutions at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher across sectors including climate, culture and creativity, digital, energy, food and agritech, healthcare, raw materials and urban mobility.

In his opening remarks, Dr Melchior Cini, Director of R&I at Xjenza Malta, said that, “Malta is actively shaping its future as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and talent-driven growth. This requires creating the right pathways for researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to transform knowledge into applicable solutions, sustainable enterprises and scalable opportunities.”

Addressing the conference, Adam Rottenbacher, Head of Operations at the EIT, remarked that, “This is not just another accelerator, but a scheme co-created with national partners to tackle the real needs of local innovation ecosystems. Europe doesn’t lack innovation – it lacks scale. With the EIT Regional Innovation Booster, we help startups move faster from strong ideas to real market presence. Malta shows how smaller ecosystems can play a big role when given the right tools, connections and locally grounded support to grow internationally.”

The programme will support startups through a structured scale-up process focused on market readiness, internationalisation and investor access. Participants will receive mentoring, strategic guidance, networking opportunities and access to the wider EIT innovation network. Selected startups may also qualify for financial support to assist with commercial expansion and market entry.

Through the Xjenza Malta Go To Market Programme, startups may also benefit from the Malta Development Bank’s (MDB) Loan Assistance Scheme, implemented with Xjenza Malta. The scheme facilitates access to blended finance through commercial banks, with MDB providing up to 80% guarantee on eligible loans to help innovative startups commercialise their solutions. Additional support includes interest rate subsidies and measures to aid the beneficiary with any upfront contributions and collateral required by the bank.

Eligible applicants must be SMEs legally registered and operating in Malta before the launch of the call, applying as a single entity, with a solution at TRL 7 or higher and ownership of, or full rights to exploit, the intellectual property.

The call for applications opens on 14 May 2026 and closes on 15 July 2026 at 23:59 CEST. Applications must be submitted in English through the online application form. More information about the programme is available here: https://eit-ris.eu/regional-innovation-booster/

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster forms part of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS), launched in 2014 to improve innovation performance in countries classified as emerging or moderate innovators under the European Innovation Scoreboard.

Bank of Valletta has renewed and upsized its €500 million Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme, originally established in 2022, following the receipt of regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Ireland of a base prospectus dated 15^th May 2026. The updated programme provides the Bank with the ability to issue up to €650 million in new notes and provides it with continued flexibility to access international capital markets efficiently.

In line with its funding strategy, the Bank is currently considering an issue of up to €300 million Senior Preferred Notes under the programme, to be offered in both the international and domestic capital markets (the “Notes”). This would mark its second benchmark transaction following its successful debut issuance in 2022. The issuance forms part of the Bank’s longterm funding strategy to support balance sheet growth and strategic development initiatives 

Commenting on the regulatory approval obtained, Dr Gordon Cordina, Chairperson of BOV, said,
“This step marks another important milestone in the Bank’s access to international capital markets. It is aimed to strengthen and diversify our wholesale funding base while supporting the continued optimisation of our liability structure in line with evolving regulatory expectations.”

Kenneth Farrugia, BOV Chief Executive Officer, added, “In recent weeks, we conducted a series of nondeal roadshows across key international markets to present the Bank’s strategy and engage with global investors. The strong level of engagement across these meetings highlights continued confidence in the Bank’s strategic direction, financial performance and robust balance sheet. This expected transaction supports our lending growth and general financing needs, while representing a further step in broadening our investor base beyond the domestic market.”

Given their structure and minimum denomination, as the Notes are intended solely for professional clients and eligible counterparties, the minimum denomination of each Note will be €100,000 (or equivalent). The Notes will not be offered or sold to retail investors in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.

The Notes are expected to be admitted to listing on the Official List and to trading on the regulated market of the Irish Stock Exchange, trading as Euronext Dublin.

The webinar will feature Benjamin Jones, CFA, Global Head of Research, Strategy & Insights at Invesco, one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms. With over 20 years’ experience in global markets, Jones regularly comments on macroeconomic trends, geopolitics and investment strategy.

During the session, Jones will explore how historical conflicts have shaped economic outcomes, how investors can interpret market behaviour during periods of uncertainty, and how post conflict recoveries often influence growth and investment opportunities. A particular focus will be placed on the role of energy security and the long term implications for sustainable investing, given ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The event forms part of MeDirect’s Educational Series, which aims to improve financial literacy and help both customers and the wider public better understand investing and global financial markets.

Larissa Ciantar, Head of Personal Banking at MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc, said, “Geopolitical uncertainty obviously impacts the global economy and while no two situations are the same, understanding the past can help investors plan for the present and future. MeDirect has always been committed to providing its customers, and the broader public, with high quality information to help them manage their money with confidence. This webinar with Invesco’s Ben Jones will provide timely insights into the complex realities of today’s world.”

Benjamin Jones, said, “I am very much looking forward to discussing how the current period of conflict will continue to impact economies and how investors might consider positioning themselves. Looking at history, it has almost always been the case that economies do well following a conflict. However, it is also important to understand the specific nature of the current situation especially when it comes to energy and sustainable investing.”

The online session will last up to 90 minutes and includes a live Q&A. Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. For more information and to register, visit: https://promo.medirect.com.mt/webinar-how-conflict-shapes-the-global-economy/

This conference is a landmark initiative of the Mediterranean Children’s Movement, led by former President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, with the support of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism. 

Through a grant agreement signed this week, the Ministry will financially support the organisation of a conference that will serve as a platform for regional dialogue, youth engagement and the exchange of best practices among those working with and for children. 

The Mediterranean Children’s Movement Children’s Council will be actively engaged in this initiative to ensure children and young people are directly involved in the discussions.

The agreement was signed by Ms Coleiro Preca and Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg.

Ms Coleiro Preca described the signing of the agreement as an important step in strengthening regional cooperation for the wellbeing of children across the Mediterranean, while promoting peace education and best practices.

“Through this collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Malta is providing a platform for organisations, professionals, and young people to exchange ideas, promote children’s rights, and build stronger networks of solidarity and inclusion.

“This initiative reflects Malta’s commitment to meaningful engagement with civil society and to fostering dialogue on issues that directly impact the lives and future of children and young people in our region,” Ms Coleiro Preca said, thanking the ministry for supporting this project.

Deputy Prime Minister Borg commended the Mediterranean Children’s Movement for this project and said Malta was once again stepping forward to encourage stronger regional and global cooperation for children’s wellbeing and rights.

“This is a commitment we have consistently demonstrated, including during our term on the UN Security Council and last year’s Presidency of the Council of Europe. By investing in children today, we are fostering a more peaceful, stable and prosperous future for our region,” Dr Borg said. 

Mr Cutajar added that this partnership reflected Malta’s continued commitment to supporting initiatives that promoted child welfare, regional cooperation, and inclusive dialogue across the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean Children’s Movement was established to build and sustain an active network of associations and individuals committed to improving the quality of life for children across the region. 

The 4th PECS Call will make €1.75 million available for Malta-based entities seeking to develop projects connected to the space sector. This forms part of Malta’s continued cooperation with ESA and reflects Xjenza Malta’s ongoing work to increase access to funding for local companies, researchers, and innovators, enabling them to expand research, development, and innovation activity within Malta’s emerging space economy.

The PECS Information Day provided practical guidance on the PECS application process, including eligibility, proposal preparation, project scope, technical expectations, and ESA’s evaluation procedures. Industry representatives present also had the opportunity to hold one-to-one meetings with ESA technical representatives, allowing them to discuss potential project ideas, clarify viability considerations, and better understand how their expertise could be developed into viable PECS proposals.

Xjenza Malta, through its Space Programmes & Engagement Unit continues to serve as Malta’s institutional bridge with ESA, with a clear focus on opening practical routes for local industry to participate in European space programmes. Xjenza Malta thus plays a critical role in ensuring that Malta’s participation in ESA structures translates into concrete opportunities for companies, start-ups, researchers, and service providers operating from Malta.

The call is not limited to traditional aerospace organisations. The modern space economy includes upstream, downstream, and space-derived activities, ranging from technology development and satellite data applications to legal, financial, insurance, corporate, digital, and advisory services that support the wider sector. Through the forthcoming PECS call, Maltese entities and private bodies may explore projects ranging from feasibility studies and concept validation to applied research, technology development, and innovation-driven activities.

The PECS Information Day reinforced Malta’s wider strategic direction in the space domain, with Xjenza Malta continuing to support the development of a credible national space ecosystem aligned with EU priorities and responsive to Malta’s industrial, technological, and research strengths.

The 4th ESA PECS Call will open for applications on 4 June and represents an important opportunity for Maltese industry to move from early engagement to direct participation, and from potential capabilities to concrete project development.

For more information contact space.xjenzamalta@gov.mt