Businesses can get up to €140,000 through the Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant
Local businesses that invest in projects to become more ecologically sustainable will be able to receive up to €140,000 in government support, as Malta Enterprise extends its Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant for another year.
During a visit to the manufacturing company OLI Vibra Ltd in Ħal Far, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli announced that the government is this year doubling this scheme so that businesses can now receive up to a €100,000 grant, which can be extended by another €40,000 in tax credits.
The Smart and Sustainable Scheme provides financial assistance to businesses as they make the transformation towards more sustainable operations. It falls under the De Minimis rules.
OLI Vibra Ltd, a subsidiary of the international manufacturer of specialised industrial equipment OLI, is one of companies benefitting from the Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant. Through this scheme the company is investing in more efficient and sustainable machinery that will reduce its processes by more than 40% to cut energy consumption by 60%, reducing 7,500 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
It was explained that through the revamped Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, the tax credit element can represent an additional 10% to 20% of the project amount, up to a maximum of €40,000, if it is carried out by an undertaking which has been established for less than three years, if it is certified by an independent energy audit, or if the project includes investments in Gozo.
Minister Miriam Dalli emphasised the need for every economic niche to tackle its environmental challenges and work towards carbon neutrality and long-term sustainability.
“Schemes like the Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant generate a lot of interest amongst enterprises, encouraging them to invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies. This is a step in the right direction, as we are having more and more businesses choosing to operate sustainably. Moreover, such investments also create new green jobs and other career opportunities,” said Minister Dalli.
Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia explained that Malta Enterprise has always been there to help businesses in every way possible. He continued that a growing number of businesses have already benefited from this scheme and more will benefit from this extended and improved grant. Studies have shown that companies that do not treat sustainability as one of their core values will become less competitive.
“In our constant talks with businesses we noted that reaching sustainability targets is a growing concern for our businesses, and we want to be here to help. We want our businesses to be at the forefront of sustainability and innovative practices,” explained Kurt Farrugia.
For more information about the Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, visit maltaenterprise.com.
Il-gvern jirdoppja l-għajnuna għan-negozji biex isiru aktar sostenibbli
Negozji jistgħu jibbenefikaw sa €140,000 bl-iSmart and Sustainable Investment Grant
Negozji lokali li qed jinvestu fi proġetti biex isiru ambjentalment aktar sostenibbli issa jistgħu jirċievu sa massimu ta’ €140,000 f’għajnuna mill-gvern hekk kif Malta Enterprise qed testendi l-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant għal sena oħra.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli ħabbret kif il-gvern qed jirdoppja l-investiment għal din l-iskema biex b’hekk negozji jibbenefikaw sa massimu ta’ €100,000 f’għajnuna finanzjarja, li tista’ tiġi estiża b’€40,000 oħra fi krediti tat-taxxa. Il-ministru ħabbret dan waqt żjara lill-ħaddiema tal-kumpanija tal-manifattura OLI Vibra Ltd, f’Ħal Far.
Din l-iskema tipprovdi għajnuna finanzjara lin-negozji biex ibiddlu l-operat tagħhom għal wieħed aktar sostenibbli u effiċjenti. Din l-iskema taqa’ taħt ir-regoli de minimis.
OLI Vibra Ltd, sussidjarja tal-kumpanija internazzjonali tal-manifattura t’apparat industrijali speċjalizzat OLI, hija fost il-kumpaniji li qed jibbenefikaw mill-iSmart and Sustainable Investment Investment Grant. Permezz ta’ din l-iskema, din il-kumpanija qed tinvesti f’makkinarju aktar effiċjenti u sostenibbli li se jnaqqas il-proċessi tagħha b’aktar minn 40% u jnaqqas il-konsum tal-enerġija b’60%. B’hekk, il-kumpanija qed tnaqqas mas-7,500 kilogramma ta’ emissjonijiet tal-karbonju fis-sena.
Ġie spjegat li permezz ta’ dan it-titjib fl-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, il-kreditu tat-taxxa li jistgħu jibbenefikaw minnu l-kumpaniji, jista’ jfisser żieda ta’ 10% sa 20% fl-ammont tal-proġett, sa massimu ta’ €40,000, jekk jitwettaq minn kumpanija li tkun ilha mwaqqfa inqas minn tlett snin, jekk il-proġett ikun kopert b’ċertifikat indipendenti ta’ energy audit, jew jekk il-proġett jinkludi investiment f’Għawdex.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli saħqet fuq l-importanza li kull qasam tal-ekonomija jegħleb l-isfidi ambjentali u jimxu lejn id-dekarbonizazzjoni u s-sostenibbilità.
“Skemi bħal Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant jiġġeneraw ħafna interess fost il-kumpaniji, fejn inħeġġuhom jinvestu f’teknoloġiji aktar effiċjenti u nodfa. B’hekk ikollna aktar u aktar kumpaniji li joperaw b’mod sostenibbli. Fl-istess waqt, investimenti bħal dawn joħolqu opportunitajiet ta’ karrieri ġodda, speċjalment fl-ekonomija l-ħadra,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia spjega kif Malta Enterprise dejjem kienet t’għajnuna għan-negozji. Kompla li numru ta’ kumpaniji diġà bbenefikaw minn din l-iskema u ħafna oħrajn se jkomplu jirċievu l-għajnuna hekk kif issa l-iskema qed tiġi estiża u mtejjba. Studji juru kif kumpaniji li ma jqisux is-sostenibbiltà bħala waħda mil-valuri ewlenin tagħhom isiru ferm inqas kompetittivi.
“F’diversi diskussjonijiet li jkollna man-negozji nnutajna li jkun hemm diversi sfidi biex jilħqu l-miri tas-sostenibbiltà. Għalhekk aħna irridu nkunu t’għajnuna għal dawn il-kumpaniji anke f’dan ir-rigward. Iridu li n-negozji tagħna jkunu fuq quddiem nett fil-qasam tas-sostenibbiltà u prattiċi innovattivi,” spjega Kurt Farrugia.
Għal aktar informazzjoni fuq l-iskema Smart and Sustainable Investment Grant, żur maltaenterprise.com.