‘Digitisation and smart manufacturing’ is where Malta’s competitive edge lies – CFO of Toly Group

“Digitisation and smart manufacturing are where our competitive edge lies,” said Nick Xuereb, CFO of Toly Group.

His comments were made at an event hosted by the Malta Business Network and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malta, earlier this month, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

The event brought together expert voices from across the manufacturing ecosystem, who agreed that Europe must move faster, cut red tape, and embrace digital and green innovation if it wants to remain globally competitive in manufacturing.

Mr Xuereb continued to speak candidly about Malta’s challenges, highlighting the disparity in EU funding access between regions like Sicily and Malta.

“We’re in the same sea, facing the same pressures, but the rules aren’t equal,” he said.  Mr Xuereb also noted the poaching of skilled employees by the Government as an ongoing issue for manufacturers trying to build long-term talent pipelines.

While manufacturing remains a “tough business,” Mr Xuereb emphasised the strategic role of R&D and innovation: “Low-skilled jobs are growing rapidly, but we need to focus on value creation.”

From a geopolitical perspective, Mr Xuereb underlined how tariff volatility has created both headaches and unexpected opportunities, recounting how one US client opted to fast-track production in Malta due to shifting trade rules.

“One-third of our output goes to the US, so we feel these changes acutely,” he concluded.