Malta’s growth forecast may be on tract, but business sentiment among CEOs and business leaders is divided for 2025. In the third part of this series, we zoom in on the views of Sparkasse Bank CEO Paul Mifsud.
Paul Mifsud has served as Sparkasse Bank Malta’s CEO since 2006, building on years of experience across financial services in various business roles, including as Managing Director of Quest Investment Services, the firm he founded in 2000.
He emphasises the critical role of interest rates in shaping banking strategies, noting their influence on “both the asset side and liability side of the balance sheet.”
With rates expected to decline in 2025, evidenced by the January rate cuts by the ECB, he anticipates an impact on deposit rates and credit facilities, boosting credit accessibility. Malta’s strengths – such as its EU membership, an English-speaking workforce and low unemployment – position it as an attractive business hub. However, sustainability, infrastructure efficiency and value for money remain key challenges, he believes.
“Malta does not need much to prosper due to its size and EU membership, so our focus should be on quality and sustainability, with a hard stop to over-development and urbanisation. A serious strategy on traffic management is also critical, while our local councils should be adequately resourced and budgeted to provide clean and safe neighbourhoods for residents, with accountability from all stakeholders.”
Regulatory costs weigh heavily on smaller financial institutions, potentially driving mergers and acquisitions in the sector, he adds.
“Tourism will continue to be a key economic driver, while opportunities in digital assets and pensions signal promising growth areas.”
This forms part of a feature first published on Malta CEOs 2025, the sister print brand to MaltaCEOs.mt, both owned by Content House.
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