Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547581
maltatoday | SUNDAY •15 NOVEMBER 2026 'We want to work more with Maltese businesses': COLIBRIX ONE makes Malta its principal base 1. For readers new to COLIBRIX ONE, what does the company do, and whom does it serve? COLIBRIX ONE is an international fintech group that helps business- es accept, process and manage payments across markets. Through regulated entities in Malta and the UK, we provide acquiring, recurring payments, payment accounts, card issuing and open banking to inter- national businesses. COLIBRIX ONE is a trading name used by the companies Colibrix Limited, Mellifera Kartiera Limited and Mellifera Operations Limited. Products and services are provided by the relevant company in accord- ance with its applicable jurisdiction and regulatory permissions. 2. What drew you to COLIBRIX ONE, and how do you see your role as Chairman? I saw the chance to help build a young financial institution in a fast-changing sector, backed by ambitious shareholders and man- agement. I joined as Chairman in September 2024. Together with the board, my role is to guide strategy, ensure sound governance and support manage- ment. But none of what we have achieved would have been pos- sible without our team of around 200 professionals, across the busi- ness and in control functions such as risk, compliance and AML. Good governance balances trust with ac- countability, giving a business room to grow without stifling entrepre- neurship. 3. Why did the company choose Malta as its home? Malta offers EU membership, an established financial sector, experi- enced professionals and a regulato- ry framework that supports innova- tion with proper oversight. Our electronic money institution is authorised by the MFSA, and constructive engagement with the regulator is essential as we intro- duce new services. We also value our relationships within the Maltese financial community. For us, Malta is a home, not just a licensing juris- diction, and we are now expanding significantly here. 4. What is driving the move to new offices, and will it bring new jobs? We have decided to make Malta our principal operational base, while re- taining our presence elsewhere. Our team here has grown to 20 people, so we moved to the 20th floor of ST Tower, between Gżira and Ta' Xbiex, and have already secured the 21st floor for growth in 2027. The space will help us attract talent and host clients and partners. We will celebrate with a housewarming party on 10 December. I hope our Malta team will double next year, depending on business growth. We will hire across technol- ogy, payments operations, compli- ance, risk, finance and commercial roles, giving local professionals in- ternational experience. 5. More broadly, what opportu- nities and challenges do you see in the Maltese fintech sector? Fintech is a natural next step for Malta as a financial centre. Business- es expect instant, secure cross-bor- der payments, and open banking is enabling new business models. The challenges are competition for talent, rising regulatory demands and access to banking infrastruc- ture. The small domestic market also demands an international out- look, but Malta has proven it can host businesses serving far larger markets. 6. What has changed most at CO- LIBRIX ONE over the past year? 2026 was a year of consolidation. We aligned our Group companies, strengthened management and oversight, and formed several sig- nificant partnerships. We onboard new clients almost every week, from increasingly di- verse sectors. What I value most is the sense of belonging I saw across teams and nationalities at my first Group-wide event. We are also proud of our recent local recognition as Best Payment Services Provider of the Year at Mal- ta's BIB Awards 2026. 7. You mentioned new partner- ships. Which ones stand out, and what comes next? We look for partnerships that create value for both sides. Yu- no connected our acquiring to its subscription tools, so merchants accept recurring payments in over 130 countries through one integra- tion. Through Primer, our acquiring reaches its global merchant base, with failed renewals retried auto- matically via a backup route. Vivox AI's agents speed up merchant ver- ification, while our compliance an- alysts review every case. Together, they bring us new merchants and faster onboarding. Next, we want to work more with Maltese banks and businesses: we are investing here and open to co- operation. 8. Beyond partnerships, what is new in your products this year? Our multi-currency business ac- counts now support GBP, CAD, CHF, PLN and SEK alongside EUR and USD. We are building infrastructure for subscription businesses, helping merchants maintain payment conti- nuity and predictable cash flow. We are also seeking a licence ex- tension from the MFSA and prepar- ing an application under the EU's MiCA regulation, subject to regula- tory approval. 9. Finally, what are your main goals for 2027? Our priority is turning recent in- vestment in people and technology into sustainable growth: a more di- verse client base, stronger products and scalable operations. We expect transaction volumes to keep rising, but we will judge suc- cess equally by client relationships, sustainable revenue and govern- ance. THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION Chairman Joseph Camilleri talks about the expanded Malta office, partnerships and goals for 2027 Malta offers EU membership, an established financial sector, experienced professionals and a regulatory framework that supports innovation with proper oversight