Skip to main content
Foreign Policy Magazine Foreign Policy Magazine
  • Sign In
  • Give a Gift Give a Gift
  • Subscribe Subscribe Upgrade Upgrade
  • Latest
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Podcasts
  • The Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • FP Live
  • Events
  • FP Analytics
Search Icon

latest

In Myanmar, Resistance Forces Pursue Home Rule

Two years after the military coup, many communities are providing their own public services and making the case for federalism.

Analysis |
Emily Fishbein

Norway Is Planning to Profit From Climate Change

The oil-rich Nordic country is laying the groundwork to become a renewable energy superpower.

Analysis |
Brett Simpson

To Help Afghanistan, Engage Its Political Opposition

The Taliban’s rule isn’t inevitable or forever.

Argument |
Richard Fontaine, Lisa Curtis

Recession Fears in Germany as Rate Rises Loom

Inflation remains a concern for central banks in Europe and beyond.

Morning Brief |
Emily Tamkin
See All Stories
  • FP Events
  • FP Studios
  • FP Analytics
  • FP PeaceGames
  • Subscription Services
  • Group Subscriptions
  • Reprint Permissions
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • FP Guides – Graduate Education
  • FP For Education
  • FP Archive
  • Buy Back Issues
  • Work At FP
  • Meet the Staff
  • Advertising/Partnerships
  • Country Reports
  • Sign In
  • Give a Gift Give a Gift
  • Subscribe Subscribe Upgrade Upgrade
Search Icon

: Making Malta a better place to live, work and invest Making Malta a better place to live, work and inve...

SHARE: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Print this page Share via Email

Content By Prisma Reports

Making Malta a better place to live, work and invest

Johann Buttigieg, Executive Chairman, Planning Authority
Johann Buttigieg, Executive Chairman, Planning Authority

Johann Buttigieg, Executive Chairman, Planning Authority

Transparent, fair, efficient and innovative planning services provide a balanced and sustainable environment in Malta

Malta is seeing unprecedented growth in construction projects, says Johann Buttigieg, executive chairman of the country’s Planning Authority, the entity responsible for regulating land use on the islands. “Due to the huge government initiatives for foreign investors there is enormous investment coming in and every week companies are opening offices,” he says. This influx creates a need for more housing, schools, education and hospitals for example. “The government is also investing over €100 million a year in infrastructure,” notes Buttigieg. As a result, the authority received over 11,300 planning applications in 2017, a rise of 24% on 2016, and in 2018 it approved new projects worth over €500 million.

The Planning Authority’s major role is to provide transparent and fair planning services that balance the sustainability of Malta’s environment with the changing needs of the population and investors. “We are extremely careful about controlling the quality of developments. However, a planning permit is normally granted promptly — there is a time limit of 100 days — and we are available to meet any investor at very short notice,” he states. In order to carry on fulfilling its responsibilities effectively and efficiently in a period of rapid growth, the entity has recently upgraded and modernized its internal processes and technologies, and introduced a new online platform. It is also updating its policy framework. “We have forged ahead to a much higher level. Now, we must push Malta’s boom forward but control its negative effects,” says Buttigieg.

Planning for the future

In line with Malta, the Planning Authority is focused on being a leader in innovation and it is currently coordinating 10 EU-funded research projects worth over €7 million in topics that include green infrastructure, coastal management and smart cities. Spacial information is another key research priority. The authority has recently launched new digital mapping services and is implementing an ambitious national information project that will make Malta a global frontrunner in geo-spatial technology. Part of this project will see the creation of 3D maps of the islands that extend up to a nautical mile from the coastline, he says: “We are looking to progress and not only at offering services for land-based industries but also underwater. We expect to invest a further €40 million in this.”

The authority is also researching best international practices for managing disused land and expanding its strategy for smart cities. “We are moving towards developing smart cities that are integrated into our infrastructure. Perhaps Malta will set the bar and be the first in Europe to run as a smart country,” he suggests. Buttigieg believes that new planning advances such as this will help attract even more investors and stresses that the Planning Authority is “ready to deliver — whenever, wherever.”

The government has committed itself to major road infrastructure projects
The government has committed itself to major road infrastructure projects

The government has committed itself to major road infrastructure projects

On the road to quality transportation

With excellent airport and seaport facilities in place, Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, is focusing his attention on Malta’s roads

PR: How are you ensuring Malta’s economic success continues?

IB: The various decisions we have made as a government have ensured the creation of a healthy financial environment for local and foreign investors, which has also attracted foreign direct investment. It is clear that Malta and its economy are growing steadily. But for every country with a growing economy, it is necessary to have sound and high-quality infrastructure. We have achieved extraordinary results — but not because of our infrastructure. So this is what we are doing now — we are focusing on upgrading our country’s infrastructure, our road network. This government has committed itself to major infrastructural road projects and also to the upgrading of the whole residential road network. We are investing almost $800 million to enable our country to finally get a residential road network that caters for today’s needs, while we are implementing other medium and long-term projects on our road arteries and junctions. This is the priority of our government’s program.

PR: What impact does Malta’s size have on the ease of doing business?

IB: I am convinced that being part of a small community, like Malta, provides the opportunity to be nearer to the people, to listen to people and to their real needs, and to be able to take action to respond promptly and efficiently to them. The same applies to foreign investors; we are only a phone call away. Being a small country makes it easier to make things happen faster — meeting companies that are willing to invest in our country is a normal part of our course of work and I regularly receive requests for meetings with companies looking to invest. This agility can only be found in small administrations. This government believes in strong and healthy public and non-governmental organization participation. We are willing to put ideas on the table and discuss, and that is what we are doing. Be it for land administration, transport planning, connecting the islands of Malta and Gozo, or better planning, for example.

Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects
Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects

Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects

PR: Can you comment on the government’s public and private transport initiatives?

IB: This is a complex issue — there is no single solution for such a densely populated island state. Our public transport is carrying more than 3.5 million passengers a year. We have to improve and increase this capacity, while at the same time working to create further transport systems. We are encouraging our authorities to do more, especially in marine transportation, for example, the ferries. We have a thriving ferry system between Cottonera, Valletta and Sliema. 62,000 passengers were carried on our ferries in 2012 — 1.6 million was the final figure for 2018. It is imperative that we combine our advances with e-motor vehicles. However, we have to be realistic about our culture — most Maltese people like their cars. We need to offer incentives, which we started doing a couple of years ago. We are currently providing free public transport to young people and offering incentives for switching to cleaner transport, such as no registration tax and up to almost $7,900 when people switch to an electric vehicle.

We are investing in the infrastructure that supports electric vehicles but I still believe that the electrification of the transport system is a market-driven scenario. People are still waiting for electric vehicles to have improved designs, longer-lasting batteries and lower prices. So, it is not only about the government giving out incentives, it is also about the automobile industry doing its part. And products are already improving.

PR: In 2018 more than $67 million was spent on road infrastructure, which will rise to about $113 million in 2019, as part of a seven-year plan. Can you provide more insight into this strategy?

IB: We would like to resurface all our roads, especially the residential ones. Local councils had responsibility for their upkeep but were not equipped with the right resources. The government decided to take on the responsibility, share the burden, and set up an infrastructure agency to carry out the works within seven years. We have achieved considerable economic success, tourism is booming, and people want to work and live in Malta. It is, therefore, imperative that we ensure that no part of the island is neglected. For this reason, the government is actively intervening to improve our infrastructure. We strongly believe that infrastructure is one of the pillars of any country’s economy and so we are committed towards an improved infrastructure for our country for the bene t of our communities.

Malta

  • MALTA – Futureproofing the islands’ economic boom
  • Malta’s financial services regulator leads — setting an example for the rest of Europe
  • Making Malta a better place to live, work and invest
Loading graphics
Foreign Policy Magazine
Foreign Policy Magazine
  • FP Events
  • FP Studios
  • FP Analytics
  • FP PeaceGames
  • Subscription Services
  • Group Subscriptions
  • Reprint Permissions
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • FP Guides – Graduate Education
  • FP For Education
  • FP Archive
  • Buy Back Issues
  • Work At FP
  • Meet the Staff
  • Advertising/Partnerships
  • Country Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Powered by WordPress VIP
© 2023, Graham Digital Holding Company

Welcome to a world of insight.

Make the most of FP.

Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Explore the benefits included in your subscription.

Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. Sign up below.

Choose a few newsletters that interest you. Get more insight in your inbox.

Here are some we think you might like. Update your newsletter preferences.

  • Morning Brief thumbnail

    Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. Delivered Monday-Friday.

  • Africa Brief thumbnail

    Essential analysis of the stories shaping geopolitics on the continent. Delivered Wednesday.

  • Latin America Brief thumbnail

    One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. Delivered Friday.

  • China Brief thumbnail

    The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week. Delivered Wednesday.

  • South Asia Brief thumbnail

    Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. Delivered Thursday.

  • Situation Report thumbnail

    Weekly update on what’s driving U.S. national security policy. Delivered Thursday.

  • A curated selection of our very best long reads. Delivered Wednesday & Sunday.

  • Evening roundup with our editors’ favorite stories of the day. Delivered Monday-Saturday.

  • A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers.

Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Keep up with the world without stopping yours.

Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Download the new FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere.

Download on the App Store
  • Read the magazine
  • Save articles (and read offline)
  • Customize your feed
  • Listen to FP podcasts
Download on the Apple App Store
Download on the Google Play Store

Analyze the world’s biggest events. Analyze the world’s biggest events.

Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with FP Live logo Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with FP Live logo

An illustration shows US President Joe Biden surrounded by the foreign-policy issues he has faced in his first two years in office.
An illustration shows US President Joe Biden surrounded by the foreign-policy issues he has faced in his first two years in office.

Biden’s Foreign-Policy Report Card

February 1, 2023  |  12:00pm ET
Register now Ask a Question Ask a Question
✓  

Registered

  |   Ask a Question Ask a Question   |   Add to Calendar
  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    Subscribe

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    Subscribe

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

Two years into his first term, how has U.S. President Joe Biden fared on foreign policy? Is there a clear Biden Doctrine? Is the United States in a stronger or weaker position globally?  Th...Show moree answers depend on whom you ask.  Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal for a lively discussion about the Biden administration’s foreign-policy successes and failures, with Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Nadia Schadlow, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a former U.S. deputy national security advisor for strategy during the Trump administration.

A Russian flag at the Embassy of Russia is seen through a bus stop post in Washington, DC on April 15, 2021. - The US announced sanctions against Russia on April 15, 2021, and the expulsion of 10 diplomats in retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin's US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity. President Joe Biden ordered a widening of restrictions on US banks trading in Russian government debt, expelled 10 diplomats who include alleged spies, and sanctioned 32 individuals alleged to have tried to meddle in the 2020 presidential election, the White House said. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian flag at the Embassy of Russia is seen through a bus stop post in Washington, DC on April 15, 2021. - The US announced sanctions against Russia on April 15, 2021, and the expulsion of 10 diplomats in retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin's US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity. President Joe Biden ordered a widening of restrictions on US banks trading in Russian government debt, expelled 10 diplomats who include alleged spies, and sanctioned 32 individuals alleged to have tried to meddle in the 2020 presidential election, the White House said. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Do U.S. Sanctions Work?

February 6, 2023  |  12:00pm ET
Register now Ask a Question Ask a Question
✓  

Registered

  |   Ask a Question Ask a Question   |   Add to Calendar
  1. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    Subscribe

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

  2. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews.

    Subscribe

    ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN

When Washington seeks to curtail Beijing’s ambitions or punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine, it often turns to a familiar tool: sanctions. In the last two years, the Biden administration ...Show morehas deployed unprecedented muscle in the form of sanctions as part of its foreign-policy arsenal.  The question is whether those sanctions work effectively. In which countries are they achieving their desired impact? Where are they less successful? And how does the use of sanctions impact U.S. power more broadly?  Join FP’s Ravi Agrawal in conversation with two experts: Agathe Demarais, the global forecasting director at the Economist Intelligence Unit, and Nicholas Mulder, an assistant professor of history and a Milstein faculty fellow at Cornell University. Together, they will explore whether sanctions are an effective tool to achieve U.S. interests abroad and how the government might improve them.  

Reporters-notebook-FPLive-site-3-2
Reporters-notebook-FPLive-site-3-2

What to Expect From Russia’s Looming Offensive

January 26, 2023 | View Now

Last week, Germany and the United States announced that they would be supplying Ukraine with dozens of Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to combat Russia’s invasion. Moscow said these tanks we...Show morere more evidence of direct and growing involvement by the West in the conflict. How will the delivery of these tanks change, and potentially escalate, fighting in Ukraine? And is NATO as united as it was earlier in the war? For the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, watch FP executive editor Amelia Lester’s timely conversation with FP’s team of reporters.

See what’s trending. See what’s trending.

Most popular articles on FP right now. Most popular articles on FP right now.

French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by French Armies Minister Sebastien Lecornu (2nd R), walks past a Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft at the Mont-de-Marsan air base, on Jan. 20.
French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by French Armies Minister Sebastien Lecornu (2nd R), walks past a Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft at the Mont-de-Marsan air base, on Jan. 20.

Europe Doesn’t Need the United States Anymore

Until EU leaders accept that the continent can stand on its own feet and Americans give up the role of global police, dependency on Washington will continue.

Polish army soldiers stand in front of South Korean tanks at the Baltic Container Terminal in Poland.
Polish army soldiers stand in front of South Korean tanks at the Baltic Container Terminal in Poland.

South Korea Could Sweep Up Europe’s Tank Market

Germany’s self-inflicted wound has left defense partners looking for alternatives.

A camp houses people displaced by the military coup in Myanmar.
A camp houses people displaced by the military coup in Myanmar.

In Myanmar, Resistance Forces Pursue Home Rule

Two years after the military coup, many communities are providing their own public services and making the case for federalism.

German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Norway's Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland and Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre talk with journalists during a visit to the hydrogen company NEL on Herøya, Norway, on Jan. 6, 2023.
German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Norway's Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland and Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre talk with journalists during a visit to the hydrogen company NEL on Herøya, Norway, on Jan. 6, 2023.

Norway Is Planning to Profit From Climate Change

The oil-rich Nordic country is laying the groundwork to become a renewable energy superpower.

My Account