Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512356
4 NEWS 30.11.2023 THE striking off of Malta from the grey list meant that many professionals and other practitioners have once again resumed organising or at- tending networking events to promote Malta and the fact that the country remains an optimal jurisdiction where to establish a business presence. is came out from two business breakfast events hosted recently by the Mal- tese Embassy in Germany in collaboration with Ganado Advocates on November 14 and 15 in Frankfurt and Ber- lin respectively. is initiative in Germany showcased the various thriv- ing business interactions cur- rently in place between Ger- many and Malta and was an opportunity for practitioners from Ganado Advocates to speak about what it means to do business in Malta and highlighted why Malta is an ideal jurisdiction for setting up shop, particularly for fin- tech startups. ese business breakfast events, which saw the par- ticipation of the MFSA, also sought to cultivate a deep- er understanding of Malta's evolving economic landscape among legal practitioners, business advisors and other financial services profession- als in Germany. In his welcome address, Malta's Ambassador to Germany Dr Vanni Xuer- eb spoke about Malta's eco- nomic journey, emphasising the country's strengthened commercial ties with Ger- many following Malta's EU membership and addressing recent economic challenges. In their address, the MFSA representatives provided a brief overview of the finan- cial services sector in Malta, delving into the authority's supervisory priorities and strategic objectives, includ- ing digital finance and green finance. "We are delighted with the success of these business breakfasts and the positive feedback received from par- ticipants. e collaboration between the Embassy of Mal- ta and Ganado Advocates has proven to be instrumental in creating an environment conducive to meaningful dis- cussions and networking," Andre Zerafa, Managing Partner at Ganado Advo- cates, said. "e collaboration be- tween the Embassy, Ganado Advocates and the MFSA has proved to be a successful for- mula which we hope to em- ulate in the future," Xuereb said. Ganado Advocates, Maltese Embassy in Germany host successful business events Malta promoted as ideal jurisdiction for fintech startups Dr Andre Zerafa, Managing Partner at Ganado addressing one of the business breakfasts in Germany MALTA'S premier expo for video games, game development, and es- ports is set to make its highly antici- pated return for the 3rd edition, taking place from today through Sunday, at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Cen- tre (MFCC) in Ta' Qali. Spanning an impressive 7000 square meters of interactive and educational space, PLAYCON will serve as a show- case for the best that Malta has to offer in these dynamic sectors. Recognized as some of the fastest-growing eco- nomic fields globally, the video game, game development, and esports indus- tries present an array of opportunities and careers within the digital economy, making PLAYCON an invaluable ex- perience for students eager to explore these pathways. Approximately 50 local and interna- tional companies contributing to video game development in Malta will exhib- it their work, further positioning the island as an attractive destination for foreign investment in the digital sec- tor. Esteemed industry leaders such as Ubisoft, Keywords Studios, Exient, and ESL will headline this year's edition of PLAYCON, underscoring their status as premier video game development companies and participants in interna- tional esports competitions. Attendees will have the unique chance to engage with and play games developed by these companies, as well as participate in various competitions held throughout the event. e Games Dev and Esports Summit, scheduled for ursday, November 30th, and Friday, December 1st, will bring to- gether industry stakeholders to share insights and experiences on both local and global scales. With over 40 speak- ers, the summit provides a networking platform for those keen on exploring opportunities within these sectors, featuring internationally acclaimed ex- perts. is year PLAYCON is also partner- ing with Global Top Round, a global game startup accelerator whose mis- sion is to support small studios from all over the world with development, publishing, and fundraising. Since 2015, Global Top Round has supported over 60+ game studios worldwide via their GTR Accelerator program, which sees 10 new games added every year. is collaboration shall give the right platform for startups to pitch in their ideas and get a chance to excellerate forward. ursday and Friday mornings are re- served for more than 5000 primary and secondary students expected to attend PLAYCON. ese students will have the opportunity to participate in inter- active workshops, engaging in various activities covering educational aspects of the esports sector, its competitive dimension, job opportunities, and emerging technologies. Sessions will also address the importance of main- taining a sustainable balance between recreational play and professional competition. e festival will feature esports com- petitions in popular games such as Tekken 7, Rocket League, League of Legends, CounterStrike 2, EAFC 24, Super Smash Bros., Pokemon VGC, and others. PLAYCON will unfold from urs- day, November 30th, to Sunday, De- cember 3rd, at MFCC, Ta' Qali, with free entrance. Organised by GMR with the support of Gaming Malta and the Ministry for the Economy, European Funds, and Lands, PLAYCON promises to be a groundbreaking event at the intersec- tion of gaming, development, and es- ports. PLAYCON returns today bigger and better Scenes from PLAYCON 2022