The panel Malta Vision 2050: Policy, Innovation, and the Next Era of Gaming brought Malta’s long-term economic approach to the forefront, as stakeholders, industry leaders and policy makers discussed the island’s future efforts to create a sustainable ecosystem for gaming, technology and enterprise.
Moderated by Dr Jonathan Spiteri, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta, the session underscored that “business as usual is a thing of the past” and called for a collective, long-term vision beyond short political cycles. The Malta Vision 2050 initiative seeks to shape policy and innovation over the next 25 years, with a focus on sustainability, talent development, and international competitiveness.
Building on gaming excellence
Ivan Filletti, CEO of GamingMalta, stressed the need to consolidate Malta’s strong iGaming position while expanding into interactive entertainment. “Our North Star is obvious. The home of gaming excellence remains. But we also want to embrace the interactive entertainment sector and bring all this together,” he explained. Key priorities include skills training, building educational pipelines, and cross-party support to ensure stability for the sector.
Economic impact and ecosystem support
Malta Enterprise’s CEO George Gregory pointed to the agency’s role in the propagation of innovation via schemes, funding, and talent initiatives. He argued that gaming and interactive technologies bolster Malta’s wider economic pillars of sustainability, resilience, education and efficient land use. Startups, he added, will remain a central focus, with initiatives like the Malta Venture Capital Fund and dedicated accelerator programmes helping to grow grassroots innovation.
Driving SME growth
Fenech, Deputy President of The Malta Chamber of SMEs, outlined the sector’s spillover benefits for small businesses, from hospitality and retail to legal and IT services. “This segment of the economy is a potent engine,” he noted, calling the gaming industry a driver of derived demand that strengthens Malta’s value chain and boosts opportunities for SMEs, offering a promising future for all.
Winning the race for talent
Hon. Jerome Caruana Cilia, the Shadow Minister for the Economy and Enterprise, spoke about education and re-skilling, asking schools to start integrating coding, media literacy and game design in tech education. He also pushed for training in modules with short courses, driven by industry, to entice ICT and finance professionals into gaming. He insisted on the need for bipartisan support, stating it was “a national issue, not a partisan one” in terms of protecting Malta’s gaming sector.
Sustainability as a strategic opportunity
Hon. Cressida Galea MP underlined ESG as a cornerstone of Malta Vision 2050, framing sustainability not as a regulatory checkbox but a growth enabler. She highlighted Malta Gaming Authority’s code of conduct as a step towards embedding social responsibility, ethical governance, and environmental considerations into the gaming industry. “Sustainability is here with us and will continue to be an important topic in the years to come,” she remarked.
Collaboration for the future
The panel concluded with a strong call for collective action, encouraging stakeholders to take part in the public consultation shaping Malta Vision 2050. Both Filletti and Gregory underscored Malta’s role as a launchpad for global ambitions, with startups and established players alike benefitting from a supportive ecosystem.
Malta Vision 2050 positions the island to strengthen its global reputation as a fair, transparent, and innovative hub for gaming and beyond, ensuring that economic growth remains both inclusive and sustainable.
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