Minister Scicluna was a leading panellist on a United Nations Ministerial Dialogue focussing on Financing for Development, being held at the UN in New York between the 15 and 18th April 2019.

Minister Scicluna’s topic was ‘Harnessing new technologies for financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, and in particular touched on the role of blockchain and fin tech opportunities and challenges.

He said that Malta’s innovative regulatory framework sought to deal appropriately with a disruptive technology while providing the fundamental safeguards for consumer and investor protection and market integrity. Its success can be gauged from the global interest towards Malta as the Blockchain Island.

Minister Scicluna noted that blockchain and fintech technologies ought to help sustainable development in view that ultimately the technology is aimed towards cutting bureaucracy.

The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Permanent Representative for Malta at the UN Mission Giovanni Buttigieg and his Chief of Staff Dr Paul DeBattista.

Wednesday 17th April 2019