Ian Borg  (born 28 February 1986) is a lawyer and Maltese politician who serves as Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade. Ian Borg has been serving as a Member of Parliament since 2013.

Early life and family 
Borg was born on 28 February 1986, in Pieta', Malta, to a family from Dingli. He has a sister. At a young age, Ian Borg participated actively in local NGOs and practiced football with his hometown football club Dingli Swallows F.C. Ian Borg is married to Rachelle Borg Dingli and are parents to Eve.

Education

Ian Borg is a lawyer by profession. He graduated as a Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2012, after successfully reading a Doctoral degree in Laws, a Diploma in Public Notarial Practice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

Political career

Mayor of Dingli  
Ian Borg started his political career started in 2005 with his election as Mayor of his hometown Dingli, which was reaffirmed in 2008 and 2012.

Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds  
In 2013, he contested for the first time for a General Election under the Partit Laburista ticket. He was elected with the most number of votes on the 7th District with 4,186 votes. He was appointed to the Cabinet of Ministers by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and served as Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds. During the 12th. legislature, as the youngest member of the Cabinet, he was responsible for the national preparations for the successful 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the strengthening of the EU Funds absorption process towards a more efficient and transparent practice. In fact, in 2016, Malta recorded a 100% absorption rate in EU Funds for the programming period 2007-2013.

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects 

In June 2017, Dr Ian Borg was entrusted with a wide portfolio ranging from major infrastructural projects to the construction and maintenance of the country’s infrastructure, land, air and maritime transport and property. Minister Borg’s portfolio commitment towards a radical improvement in the country’s infrastructure is visible in the continuous and persistent work being undertaken by the Ministry and the authorities falling within its remit.

In the five years since his appointment of Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Dr Ian Borg has overseen an abundance of great projects, including the completion of the Kappara Junction, the completion of the ambitious Marsa Junction Project and Central Link Project, several extensive projects on main arteries and junctions all around the island, and the implementation of the unprecedented €700 million residential roads project. During the last legislature, Minister Borg has also seen to the setting up of the roads agency Infrastructure Malta, which has forever changed the way infrastructural projects are planned and implemented.

Minister Ian Borg has also undertaken several initiatives that aim to start creating a culture shift moving from the use of the personal vehicle to the use of alternative means of transport. His work in the transport scenario has included the enabling of initiatives that seek to incentivise the use of means including public transport, shared transport and cycling. This is being complemented by the infrastructural work that is being undertaken which also includes new infrastructure for the alternative means being promoted.

The maritime and aviation sectors also formed part of the Minister’s portfolio. Both sectors have undergone a rapid growth with the maritime industry reaching new heights both with respect to the amount of ships and superyachts, reaching more than a thousand, that have been registered under the Maltese flag, thus making it the largest register in Europe and the 6th in the world. The aviation sector has also picked up its momentum with the latest figure showing over 600 aircraft registered under the Maltese aviation register 9H.

Community projects have also taken centre stage as part of the Ministry’s portfolio. Dr Ian Borg managed to implement a more cultural approach in our communities by regenerating and creating new open spaces in various localities and introducing the Malta National Park, coined as a national dream, of which two out of five phases have now been completed.

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade 

Dr Ian Borg was appointed Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade in March 2022, at the start of the 14th legislature. His current role encompasses the responsibility for maintaining Malta's external relations and the management of its international diplomatic missions.

Since taking on the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Ian Borg continued to demonstrate his strong leadership skills and commitment in advancing Malta's interests on the global stage. He has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to strengthen Malta's relationships with other countries and international organisations.

In June 2022, under his leadership as Foreign Affairs Minister, Malta was elected on the United Nations Security Council as part of the United Nations. Following that Malta was also elected to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group during the CHOGM 2022.

One of his most notable achievements has been his appointment as Chair of the United Nations Security Council, where he was instrumental in advancing Malta's priorities and advocating for global peace and security. His leadership on this issue has been widely praised and was recognised for his diplomatic skills and ability to bring people together to address complex challenges.

In addition to his work at the United Nations, Dr Ian Borg has also been active in promoting Malta's interests in other international fora, including the European Union and the Commonwealth.

He has been a strong advocate for Malta's economic development and has worked to build partnerships with other countries to promote trade and investment, notably in the Middle East, the African Continent and in North America.

Honours 

 Forbes Under 30 Law & Policy Honoree
 European Voice "Top 40 Under 40" in 2017

References

1986 births
Living people
People from Dingli
Government ministers of Malta
Labour Party (Malta) politicians
University of Malta alumni
21st-century Maltese politicians
Foreign ministers of Malta