The President of The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, William Spiteri Bailey, has called for bold, future-oriented decisions to strengthen Malta’s resilience and competitiveness in a fast-changing global economy.

Speaking at the EY Malta Future Realised Conference 2025, Spiteri Bailey said that Malta must face economic transformation with clarity, strategy, and ambition, warning that “the decisions taken in the coming years will define the country’s trajectory for decades to come.”

He outlined three key global shifts shaping the business landscape — trade fragmentation, Europe’s industrial reset, and the transformative power of artificial intelligence.

“Trade is fragmenting into competing blocs, Europe is redefining its industrial and investment agenda, and artificial intelligence is changing not just how business operates, but what constitutes competitiveness and value,” he said.

Among the Chamber’s strategic priorities, Spiteri Bailey highlighted the creation of an International Logistics Hub, describing it as “not just a project, but an investment in Malta’s long-term survival and growth.”

He urged government and industry to align national policies with the EU’s evolving frameworks on energy, technology, and critical supply chains, ensuring Malta remains an active contributor rather than a passive policy taker.

On digital transformation, the President stressed that AI and digitalisation must define both business and government operations, from regulation to public administration and procurement.

He also cautioned that Malta’s economic model can no longer rely on population-driven growth or over-construction. “We must transition to a model built on quality, value, and sustainability,” he said, calling for reforms to strengthen productivity, governance, and fiscal discipline.

Reinforcing The Malta Chamber’s Pre-Budget 2026 proposals, Spiteri Bailey urged investment in education, re-skilling, and talent retention, including incentives for Maltese professionals abroad to return home.

He also addressed the need to tackle ongoing challenges such as traffic congestion, weak governance, and overstretched infrastructure to maintain competitiveness.

Concluding, Spiteri Bailey tied these priorities to the Chamber’s Envision 2050 strategy, focused on sustainable growth and smarter use of resources.

“The world is not waiting for Malta to catch up,” he said. “Our competitiveness, credibility, and quality of life depend on the actions we take now.”