Malta's influence on the wider European financial sector is a significant one. The Banker looks at how the country punches above its weight.

Malta claims to have established the world’s first regulatory regime for blockchain-enabled services, just as it welcomes a new wave of fintechs and electronic money issuers.

Malta’s economy was the second fastest growing in the EU last year, its financial sector is healthy and diversified, and it is about to play a leading lead role in Brussels, writes Michael Imeson.

Malta's domestic banking sector is small and follows traditional principles, yet a steadily growing international banking presence is capitalising on interesting new opportunities such as those presented by the island’s emerging fund management and insurance industries.

Michael Bonello, the governor of the Central Bank of Malta, outlines his country’s key economic strengths, especially in the financial sector, and explains what is being done to remedy any weaknesses.

Malta's finance minister, Tonio Fenech, explains how the country has expanded its economy beyond its banking sector as part of the country's Vision 2015 plan.

Malta has done well out of EU and eurozone membership, with clear benefits accruing not only to the financial services sector, but also to tourism and other sectors, as its prime minister, Lawrence Gonzi, explains.

International comparison indices rate Malta’s financial sector highly, proof that the banks, funds, fund managers, insurance companies and other firms that have set up business in the EU’s smallest country have made a good choice.