Speaking during the 'Access to Finance' information
session held on Friday 14th October 2016, Deputy Prime Minister
Louis Grech said that, this year alone, the government has already
committed nearly €100 million of the 2014-2020 programmes in
clear support to SMEs.
Louis Grech said that €50 million grants under the new ERDF
Grant Schemes and €30 million from the European Social Fund
will be made available. In addition, through the SME Initiative,
another €60 million of funds are available, from which about
850 enterprises will benefit, he said. If these funds are absorbed,
we will top up our contributions to the Fund, Deputy Prime Minister
Grech continued.
Shifting to the Malta Development Bank, the Deputy Prime
Minister said that the upcoming bank will be a major tool to
provide much-needed finance to SMEs. The bank will provide
financing, through loans, investments and guarantees to
enterprises, including SMEs and start-ups. He continued by saying
that the