Access to finance

An overview of the sources of finance available to SMEs in Malta.

Maltese law provides for three types of financing under the Business Promotion Act. The three instruments, administered by Malta Enterprise, are: loan guarantees; soft loans and interest rate subsidies.

Loan Guarantees provide eligible businesses with the finance necessary for the acquisition of capital assets, to help with either their production or their supply of services. The maximum loan guarantee is 75% of the loan requirement - as stated in Article 10 of the Business Promotion Regulations.

A soft loan is a loan offered at low interest and is available for purposes specified in the Business Promotion Act. The maximum soft loan available is 75% of the loan requirement as stipulated in Article 8 of the Business Promotion Regulations.

Loan Interest Rate Subsidies aim to increase the competitiveness and innovative capacity of eligible enterprises. The subsidies support capital assets, leading to a more effective and efficient production and supply of service, and are offered under Article 9 of the Business Promotion Regulations.

Programmes

Programmes take the form of either direct or indirect support. The former includes the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) within the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and via the European Investment Fund (EIF).

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme

Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme

European Investment Fund

Indirect support includes programmes addressed at scientific enterprises, advertisements for public procurement, environmental programmes and those boosting lifelong learning.

Tenders Electronic Daily

European Public Procurement Network

The European Union's Lifelong Learning Programme

LIFE+

Intelligent Energy Europe

Marco Polo

Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises Initiative

Seventh Framework Programme for research and development

Personalised help and advice

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local partners.

Enterprise Europe Network – contact points – Malta

Source: European Commission