Silvio Schembri is a Maltese politician and academic currently serving as a Member of Parliament on the Labour Party ticket. Silvio Schembri was born in Luqa, the second child among four siblings. His father John Schembri has been occupying the office of Mayor of Luqa since 2001. Silvio is married to lawyer Deandra Schembri from Qormi whom he wed in July 2012. They currently have two children, the eldest, Zak, born in June 2014 and Faith, born in 2017. Schembri is a Roman Catholic.
Silvio Schembri is the Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Business. A title to which he was elevated following the success achieved when occupying the post as the Junior Minister for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation within the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. He was responsible for the implementation of Malta's Blockchain Strategy, in aim to make Malta The Blockchain Island. Presently he also lectures Economics studies at the University of Malta. Previously, Silvio Schembri served as chairman of the Responsible Gaming Foundation Malta, an independent institution which was set up with the scope of helping, educating and preventing problems related to gambling. He accepted the responsibility on a voluntary basis. As a Member of Parliament, Hon. Schembri also chaired the parliamentary committee for economic and financial affairs and worked as an advisor for the Economy Affairs Ministry.. Silvio Schembri was also the a founding member and general manager of GAL XLOKK foundation. GAL XLOKK was officially recognised as a Local Action Group responsible for implementing the Leader Programme in Malta aimed to improve the development potential of rural areas focusing on bringing together the different public and private local actors.
Political biography and achievements
At the age of 27 Hon Schembri was elected to Parliament on the Labour ticket, for the first time in March 2013. Silvio contested the local council elections for Luqa on the Labour Party ticket, where at the age of 18, he became Malta’s youngest Councillor. While studying at Junior College, Schembri was president of the PULSE JC movement, president of the Students’ Council, Public Relations Officer of the General Workers’ Union Youths’ Section and Education Secretary at the Luqa Labour Party Local Committee. During his tenure as Junior Minister for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri was the brains behind Malta's first Artificial Intelligence Strategy which is considered as amongst the top 10 AI strategies in the world as well as the launch of the AI Certification Program, the first of its kind worldwide. Another significant milestone is that of putting the Maltese Government amongst the first in the world to support Esports and Videogame Development industry at a governmental level, a step which caught the attention of big players in the field across the globe.
2013 Election
Schembri was elected to Parliament after obtaining 2,823 first count votes from the sixth district in the 2013 Maltese general election.
2017 Election
Silvio Schembri was elected to Parliament for a second time from both the 6th and 7th district after obtaining 3,950 and 1,184 first count votes respectively.
