VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) - Malta's economy is projected to remain the fastest growing in the eurozone until 2030, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
While the eurozone's average GDP growth is forecast at 1.1% by 2030, Malta's is expected to reach 4.0% -- nearly four times higher.
Prime Minister Robert Abela hailed the IMF outlook in a post on X, contrasting Malta's strong performance with what he called the "dim prospects" of the global economy.
Abela noted that the IMF also projects unemployment in Malta to drop to just 2.5%, adding that "progressive economic policies are the only way."
The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook warns that global economic uncertainty remains high amid tariff hikes, cuts to development aid, and tighter immigration policies in advanced economies.
It also cautions that expansive fiscal policies in several major nations could strain public finances and cause cross-border spillovers.
In a separate assessment earlier this year, the IMF said Malta's rapid growth and rising population have created infrastructure bottlenecks.
It urged more investment in wastewater treatment, waste management, and transport, calling congestion a "pressing issue."
The government has pledged to broaden its performance metrics beyond GDP, focusing instead on wellbeing, disposable income, and education outcomes in future planning.