In our era of dynamic change, Malta is a unique staple of the past and present intertwined. Fastly becoming one of the most recognized countries around the globe, Malta boasts an exceptionally rich history with long-held traditions that are still very much present in its culture and people, while also serving as a crossroad to different populations and languages. The community who inhabits this small island at the heart of the Mediterranean are a tightly-knit group with strong values and an even strong resilience. Malta has given birth to some of the most extraordinary individuals who have become famous around the world because of their contributions to the global conversation, whether through science, religion, literature or other dynamic debates. We would like to showcase the achievements of these individuals and highlight their influence in uplifting Malta in the modern age through a series of portraits by Paolo Tosti, an Italian professional photographer. Paolo Tosti specialises in the story-telling of lands and people and is the founder of the Terracomunica project. AQA CAPITAL believes that this project, will strengthen the EU and the world’s awareness of Malta and the contributions its people have to offer, in both values and skills.  AQA CAPITAL also hopes that this project will demonstrate to the Maltese people how their country influences others across the world, including our company which Malta has embraced with open arms. The project we propose is called MALTA STORIES; and consists of the exhibition of about twenty Maltese visionaries (artists, economists, entrepreneurs, among others) that have facilitated the growth of Malta in the global spotlight, thus contributing to the future of the island. The exhibition is being accompanied by a website page that will take the viewer “inside” of the photograph, that is to unfold the importance of Paolo Tosti’s subject to allow the user to see the accomplishments of that particular Maltese citizen. We are honored to present the results of this project at this inaugural event and hope to be able to be able to launch temporary exhibition in a privileged part of the capital city of Malta during the Valletta 2018, capital of European culture. MALTA STORIES brings together the individuals who have accentuated Malta as the cultural hub that it is today, and in doing so, brought awareness to the island as a center for discussion, ingenuity and commerce. We also believe that these remarkable images can be proposed in other interesting and relevant EU cities such as Brussels and Milan in the months to follow the exhibition of Valletta 2018, to bring further awareness to Malta as the home of the capital of culture. At this point in Malta’s history, we believe that MALTA STORIES is a communication project with the aim to put people and human experiences in the lime light. The people photographed for this event continue to excel at representing Malta as a contributing member to the world; from the top members of society to the everyday Maltese fisherman or farmer, these citizens are contributing to the progression of this island which contains such a plethora of history. Malta is the door to the south of Europe, connecting people from all sides of it, and Paolo Tosti’s work endeavors to bring to light the hard work of those who make Malta the place that it is, by including them into the MALTA STORIES project. Through the project, we hope to further the influence and understanding of the community who inhabits this country in the heart of the Mediterranean: a tight-knit group with strong values and an even strong resilience, who welcome those who have an interest in the vast wealth of what they have to offer. The Maltese people, from the everyday worker to the iconoclasts of this great nation, deserve to have their accomplishments shown; each and every one has progress the excellence of Malta in the eyes of our European compatriots. It is on this basis that Maltese culture has been built. The future fortune of this nation can only be realized when individuals join together to promote each other’s progress. It is the goal of AQA to inaugurate Malta into the European mind-set as a role-model for other countries and as a nation which excels its larger community.