In early March, members of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) Board of Directors and an Extraordinary General Meeting took place in Malta, hosted by our member FinanceMalta. The visit created an opportunity for an open exchange between international financial centers and Maltese authorities on current regulatory developments and prospects for future collaboration. Future Finance Poland was represented at this meeting by Paweł Widawski, President of Future Finance Poland, highlighting our active engagement within the Alliance.
On 3 March 2026, WAIFC members met with Clyde Caruana, Malta’s Minister for Finance, for a high-level exchange focused on the future of finance and the evolving role of international financial centers. The meeting began with a formal address by Minister Caruana and continued with a closed-door session, providing a platform for strategic and forward-looking dialogue. Participants explored topics such as the transformation of global finance, long-term positioning of international financial centers, regulatory evolution, innovation, sustainability, and the importance of international cooperation in an increasingly complex global environment. The discussions emphasized the critical importance of collaboration among WAIFC members, demonstrating how shared insights, best practices, and joint initiatives strengthen the resilience, competitiveness, and forward-looking capabilities of financial ecosystems worldwide.
During the visit, the delegation also met with Alexander Demarco, Governor of the Central Bank of Malta, who provided a comprehensive overview of the Bank’s role, functions, and strategic outlook. This offered valuable perspectives on monetary stability, financial resilience, and Malta’s position within the European and global financial system.
The delegation further visited the Malta Stock Exchange, where CEO Simon Zammit welcomed them warmly, providing deeper insight into Malta’s capital markets infrastructure and the strategic development of its financial ecosystem.
The WAIFC delegation also met with the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to discuss the evolving regulatory landscape in Europe, including the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The exchange provided insights into Malta’s approach to digital asset regulation and supervision, as well as the broader challenge of balancing innovation, financial stability, and consumer protection. Discussions also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in financial services. Members exchanged experiences from their respective financial centers and explored potential areas of cooperation.
The delegation also met with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), Malta’s authority responsible for preventing money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, and gain a better understanding of the country’s approach to financial intelligence, compliance frameworks and supervisory mechanisms in the fight against financial crime. Discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation and information sharing in strengthening global financial integrity and ensuring that financial centers remain resilient against illicit financial activities.
This visit to Malta sends a strong signal of shared ambition and collective responsibility among WAIFC members. By fostering cooperation between financial centers and policymakers, and actively contributing to the construction of resilient, competitive, and future-oriented financial ecosystems, WAIFC members continue to actively shape the future of global finance through dialogue, collaboration, and shared expertise.
