Ritratt: Canva

Tista’ taqra bil-
Malti.

Young people in Malta will now be able to establish their own companies from the age of 16 under a newly introduced legal framework designed to regulate and support youth entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister Robert Abela announced the initiative, known as Intrapriża16, during an event held at Ġ. F. Abela Junior College. The measure introduces a structured and regulated system enabling teenagers with entrepreneurial ideas to formally set up a company while receiving institutional guidance.

The scheme aims to remove legal barriers that previously prevented young entrepreneurs from continuing their projects before turning 18.

According to the Prime Minister, several teenagers who had launched business initiatives were forced to halt their ventures because the law did not permit company ownership at their age. The new framework resolves this restriction while ensuring safeguards and responsible oversight.

Support for participants will be provided through collaboration between the Malta Business Registry, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, and JA Malta. These organisations will assist young founders through guidance, regulatory supervision, and entrepreneurship programmes.

Abela said the initiative is intended to create new opportunities for young people who demonstrate innovative ideas and entrepreneurial ambition. He described the framework as a secure and responsible system designed to encourage youth participation in business while maintaining proper legal oversight.

The Prime Minister also noted that Malta is among the first countries in Europe to introduce such an opportunity for teenagers. He drew parallels with the country’s earlier decision to introduce Vote 16, which made Malta one of the first European Union member states to lower the voting age to 16.

Beyond voting rights, Abela pointed out that young people aged 16 and above in Malta can also stand for local government roles, including serving as mayor or deputy mayor in the locality where they contest elections.