Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514967
25.01.2024 2 NEWS 25.01.2024 FINANCEMALTA has organ- ised a meeting for its members to come together in its first networking event of the year, during which they were also of- fered a sneak peek into the op- portunities and events ahead. Over 200 people registered for the event that laid the founda- tion for a successful and collab- orative journey in the coming months. FinanceMalta Chairman George Vella hailed the event a success, as he commented: "Our members are crucial in our promotional efforts over- seas, and we want to support them as much as possible. e members' meeting was an op- portunity, among others, to in- form them about what we are planning to do over 2024, so that they can plan in advance their international activities for the next 12 months. e response in 2023 was over- whelming, and we look for- ward to further strengthening our cooperation with all our members". e members were welcomed to the meeting by Finance- Malta's new Chief Operations Officer Graziella Grech, who emphasised the commitment to providing members with op- portunities of visibility through local and international events. Ms Grech pointed out: "e active involvement of members is indispensable to achieve the overarching objective of pro- moting Malta as an Interna- tional Financial Centre, hence the importance of this meet- ing. e feedback from the activities of the previous year has proven to be remarkably encouraging, filling us with re- solve and optimism for the year ahead." e members' meeting was also addressed by FinanceMal- ta's Chief Strategy Officer Dr Bernice Buttigieg who briefed all participants about the stra- tegic priorities for the Founda- tion, and Andrea Nurchi, Head of Business Development, who presented the promotional ini- tiatives planned for 2024. FinanceMalta already has 30 promotional initiatives in the pipeline for 2024, target- ing all sectors of the financial industry. e Foundation will once again be present at Mon- ey20/20 Europe, one of the world's leading fintech events, which is taking place in Am- sterdam in June 2024. Other high-profile events include, among others, FinanceMalta's highly anticipated annual con- ference in November and the conference 'Malta – Innovative New Solutions for Asset Man- agers', to be held in London, in February, in cooperation with the Malta Asset Servicing As- sociation. FinanceMalta presents strategy and activities for 2024 in its members' meeting Above: Andrea Nurchi, FinanceMalta's Head of Business Development, highlighting the promotional initiatives for the year, and (inset) FinanceMalta's Chief Operations Officer Graziella Grech addressing the members' meeting "AS a partner of the Malta Maritime Forum since its inception, Bank of Val- letta's relationship with the shipping in- dustry has been vital for the operation of international trade and commerce, which is so important for Malta due to its insularity". is was stated by Ken- neth Farrugia, CEO at Bank of Valletta during the recently held Malta Mari- time Forum progress meeting. "At BOV we recognise the long tradi- tion of maritime services in Malta and seek to play our part by using our ex- pertise to assist our clients to succeed in their shipping related businesses. Our blend of knowledge, skills and ex- pertise allows us to provide tailor-made financing solutions, designed to protect the interest of our customers and create value that drives them to success'. BOV is increasingly looking at ways to finance more sustainable and environ- mentally friendly shipping practices, such as low-emission vessels, retrofit- ting projects and supporting the devel- opment of new technologies." Kenneth Farrugia continued by saying, "We are currently embarking on a mul- ti-year program of initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. As a lead- ing financial institution, we continue to be actively involved in supporting the transition to a net-zero sustainable future and look forward to supporting our clients with innovative financing products focused on the reduction of emissions'. In a brief address, Malta Maritime Forum Chairman, Godwin Xerri said that the Malta Maritime Forum rep- resented one of the mainstays of the Maltese economy and was proud to collaborate with one of the main play- ers in the island's economy – Bank of Valletta. "The Forum actively lever- ages the support and expertise made available through our cooperation with the Bank to strengthen the avail- ability of maritime-related data and statistics at the local level as well as to increase the exposure of maritime services offered by Malta-based com- panies abroad. Through the sharing of knowledge and best practice, the Forum looks forward to consolidating relations between the Bank and mar- itime operators thereby ensuring due recognition for their valuable contri- bution to Malta's economy." BOV supporting climate alignment in the shipping industry