From Forbes’ Monty Munford: For many years, the most densely populated country in Europe was the Netherlands, but now that ambivalent honour goes to Malta, the historical island in the Mediterranean.
It’s not difficult to see why people are attracted to the island. It is one of the few countries in the EU to use English as its first language and now the UK is leaving the EU as part of its Brexit ‘plans’, it may become the most important one. A great climate, a party atmosphere and easy access to the rest of the continent only add to the attraction.
In Latin, Mediterranean means ‘middle of the earth’ and after years out of the metaphorical spotlight, recent tumultuous events in Europe and smart innovations means that it may be ready to become the centre of Europe, if not the world.
Its tech ecosystem is booming, especially with last month’s launch of Silicon Valletta (not difficult to see where that particular phrase came from) which has been set up to connect the country’s emerging startup scene with the Government and investment sectors, as well as bringing together the CEOs of Maltese-based digital businesses.
Its initial team of 40 members will meet face-to-face in a social setting every month to encourage cooperation between all stakeholders in Malta’s digital community and act as a fulcrum for government decision-making and discuss the current challenges of the industry, based on open dialogue and so-called transparent communication.
“Despite its geographical size, Malta’s tech scene is growing, particularly within gaming and FinTech, as well as non-regulated industries. Silicon Valletta was set up to represent the founders and investors on the island that are challenging the status quo and need to lobby for support, as well as brand the island’s many attractions,” said Simon Azzopardi, president of Silicon Valletta.
