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4 NEWS 20.7.2023 FINANCEMALTA will be hosting the 16th edition of its highly anticipated an- nual conference on 13 September. e conference, which is a landmark event in the local financial services industry, will be themed "Leading change through innovation", and builds on the success of the previous editions by offering a unique platform for knowledge sharing and networking. A key player in promoting Malta as an international business and financial cen- tre, FinanceMalta organises this annual event to address the most pressing chal- lenges and emerging trends shaping the financial services landscape. e annual conference attracts an impressive list of local and international participants com- prising of C-level and other executives, European Union policymakers, Maltese Government representatives, officials of global standard-setting organisations, in- vestors, innovators, as well as renowned academics and researchers. In a rapidly evolving world driven by technological advancements, globalisa- tion, and changing consumer demands, embracing innovation has become im- perative across all sectors, not least the financial services industry. Acknowledg- ing this reality, the conference aims to delve into the significance of innovation as an indispensable element for success, growth, and adaptability in today's dy- namic financial landscape. Speaking about the upcoming confer- ence, FinanceMalta chair George Vella stated: "We are looking forward to host- ing the financial services industry at our 16th Annual Conference. e sector is at a crucial junction, and I am glad to see that all stakeholders are gearing up to provide their contribution, in line with what was indicated in the MFSAC Fi- nancial Services Strategy launched last March. We have interesting and exciting times ahead of us, and the annual con- ference is only part of a series of promo- tional initiatives that FinanceMalta will carry out to ensure that Malta further strengthens its position on the interna- tional scene, as a reputable international financial centre." FinanceMalta's 16th Annual Confer- ence kicks off with a networking event open to all delegates on 12 September at the Hilton Malta. e following day, 13 September, the conference will run from 8am to 5pm with a dynamic programme that alternates from keynote speeches to fireside chats and panel discussions. Sev- eral topics will be explored during the conference including the role of finan- cial services in advancing ESG objectives and achieving Net Zero targets; Green Bonds; financial services and the Blue Economy; the Maltese fintech ecosystem and AI-Enabled Financial Services. Furthermore, the conference will also address the implementation of the strat- egy launched by the Malta Financial Ser- vices Advisory Council in March 2023, in the context of the vision for Malta to be recognised as a competitive, secure and credible financial services jurisdiction that excels in innovation and responsive- ness through an agile and interconnect- ed regulatory framework and a resilient technological infrastructure. For further updates, including the offi- cial agenda, confirmed speakers, spon- sorship opportunities and registration details, visit https://www.fmannualcon- ference.org/ FinanceMalta charts path in financial services at its 16th annual conference Production in construction up by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU IN May 2023 compared with April 2023, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 0.2% in both the euro area and in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the Eu- ropean Union. In April 2023, produc- tion in construction fell by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU. In May 2023 compared with May 2022, production in construction in- creased by 0.1% in the euro area and decreased by 0.4% in the EU. Monthly comparison In the euro area in May 2023, com- pared with April 2023, building con- struction increased by 0.4% and civil engineering by 0.1%. In the EU, civil engineering increased by 0.4% and building construction by 0.2%. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest monthly increases in production in construc- tion were recorded in Slovakia (+5.5%), Romania and Slovenia (+3.7%) and the Netherlands (+3.6%). e largest decreases were observed in Belgium (-2.8%), Austria (-2.5%) and Hungary (-1.7%). Annual comparison In the euro area in May 2023, com- pared with May 2022, civil engineering increased by 2.7%, while building con- struction decreased by 0.3%. In the EU civil engineering increased by 3.0%, while building construction decreased by 0.9%. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest annual in- creases in production in construction were observed in Slovenia (+24.6%), Romania (+10.6%) and Spain (+7.1%). e largest decreases were recorded in Hungary (-12.0%), Italy (-6.5%) and Sweden (-6.3%). Production in construction sector

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