The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise, through Malta Enterprise, has launched the ‘Blue Med Focal Point’ initiative to assist enterprises, businesses, and companies in developing projects and ideas which contribute to the potential of the sustainable blue economy in Malta and Gozo.
As part of this initiative, Malta Enterprise has also announced the ‘SDG 14 Challenge’, with an allocation of €4 million to attract companies with innovative solutions in this field.
Incorporated within the organisational structure of Malta Enterprise, the Blue Med targets local and international disruptors and innovators in emerging blue economic niches. At the same time, it supports and assists traditional blue economic sectors to embrace innovative business solutions, making their business operation more sustainable in the long run.
This initiative is another commitment fulfilled from the Government’s electoral manifesto, and its implementation represents a new step forward in Malta’s commitment towards a sustainable economy.
“The Government is fully committed to join the ranks of forward-thinking nations by embarking on a path toward long-term prosperity and global leadership in the blue economy arena. The Blue Med will take us one step closer to positioning Malta as a Hub for blue economic activities, creating many new employment opportunities in several related sectors,” Miriam Dalli said.
“The Government is fully committed to engaging with other countries and having a long-term vision. We look towards prosperity in the future and aim to be among the first countries making a difference in the blue economy. The Blue Med focal point will bring us closer to strengthening sustainable activities in Malta and create new job opportunities and high-quality careers in related fields,” said Minister for the Environment, Energy and EnterpriseMiriam Dalli.
In recent months, Malta Enterprise has actively undertaken measures to channel the Blue Med’s focus towards attracting vital, innovative enterprises in the Maltese blue economy. Furthermore, the Blue Med is also ensuring that businesses can benefit from mentorship and guidance from industry experts through its collaboration with international organisations such as the OECD, World Ocean Council, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance.
Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise, referred to the growing number of businesses and investors that are channelling their investments into the sustainable blue economy. He added that there are ample business opportunities to harness through the sustainable use and management of ocean resources.
“By setting up Blue Med as a focal point for blue economic businesses, Malta Enterprise is reinforcing its foundations to ensure that the blue economy is given the push it deserves. The Blue Med is also focusing its efforts on those blue economy sectors compatible with our nation’s socio-economic and environmental needs,” said Kurt Farrugia.
The SDG 14 Challenge is an international competition with a €4 million investment to attract enterprises with innovative commercial solutions addressing the sustainable development goal 14 (SDG14) – “Life Below Water”.
More information on the Blue Med and the SDG 14 international challenge is available on maltaenterprise.com. Applications for SDG 14 Challenge are now open till Friday 12th January 2024.
Malta Enterprise bl-inizjattiva “Blue Med Focal Point” għal investimenti fl-ekonomija l-blu
Il-Ministeru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża, permezz ta’ Malta Enterprise, nieda l-inizjattiva “Blue Med Focal Point” bil-għan li tgħin intrapriżi, negozji u kumpaniji jiżviluppaw proġetti u ideat li jikkontribwixxu għall-potenzjal tal-ekonomija l-blu sostenibbli, f’Malta u Għawdex.
Bħala parti minn din l-inizjattiva, Malta Enterprise ħabbret wkoll l-“SDG 14 Challenge”, b’allokazzjoni ta’ €4 miljun biex tattira kumpaniji b’soluzzjonijiet innovattivi f’dan il-qasam.
Inkorporata fi ħdan l-istruttura organizzattiva tal-Malta Enterprise, il-Blue Med Focal Point għandu l-għan li jattira investituri innovattivi lokali u internazzjonali f’niċeċ tal-ekonomija l-blu. Dan il-punt ċentrali se jkun qed jgħin ukoll lil dawk is-setturi tradizzjonali li joperaw fl-ekonomija l-blu biex huma wkoll iħaddnu soluzzjonijiet kummerċjali innovattivi, u jagħmlu l-operat tan-negozji tagħhom aktar sostenibbli fit-tul.
Din l-inizjattiva hija wegħda oħra mwettqa mill-manifest elettorali ta’ dan il-Gvern, u l-implimentazzjoni tagħha timmarka tragward ġdid fl-impenn ta’ Malta lejn ekonomija sostenibbli.
“Il-Gvern huwa impenjat bis-sħiħ li jingħaqad ma’ pajjiżi oħra u jkollu viżjoni fit-tul. Qed inħarsu lejn il-prosperità fit-tul u nkunu fost l-ewwel pajjiżi li jagħmlu d-differenza fl-ekonomija l-blu. Il-Blue Med Focal Point se joħodna pass eqreb biex Malta ssaħħaħ attivitajiet li huma sostenibbli u li joħolqu opportunitajiet ġodda ta’ impjieg u karrieri ta’ kwalità f’oqsma relatati,” saħqet il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli.
Fl-aħħar xhur, il-Malta Enterprise ħadmet b’mod attiv sabiex l-inizjattiva tal-Blue Med tattira intrapriżi innovattivi li jikkontribwixxu għall-ekonomija l-blu ta’ Malta. B’din l-inizjattiva, in-negozji ikunu jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn konsulenza u gwida minn esperti fl-industrija, b’kollaborazzjoni li tinkludi organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali bħall-OECD, il-Kunsill Dinji tal-Oċean, u l-Alleanza għall-Oċean Sostenibbli.
Kurt Farrugia, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Malta Enterprise, irrefera għan-numru dejjem jikber ta’ negozji u investituri li bl-investimenti tagħhom qed iwasslu għal ekonomija l-blu li tkun sostenibbli. Spjega kif hemm diversi opportunitajiet ta’ negozji biex jiġu sfruttati permezz tal-użu sostenibbli u bl-immaniġġjar tar-riżorsi tal-oċeani.
“Permezz tat-twaqqif ta’ din l-inizjattiva, il-Malta Enterprise qed issaħħaħ il-pedamenti tagħha biex tiżgura li l-ekonomija l-blu tingħata l-ispinta li jixirqilha. Il-“Blue Med focal point” qed jiffoka wkoll l-isforzi tiegħu fuq dawk is-setturi li huma kompatibbli mal-ħtiġijiet soċjo-ekonomiċi u ambjentali ta’ pajjiżna,” qal Kurt Farrugia.
L-SDG 14 Challenge se tkun kompetizzjoni internazzjonali, b’investiment ta’ €4 miljun, biex tattira intrapriżi li għandhom soluzzjonijiet kummerċjali innovattivi li jindirizzaw l-għan tal-iżvilupp sostenibbli 14 (SDG14) – “Il-Ħajja taħt l-ilma”.
Aktar informazzjoni dwar il-“Blue Med focal point” u l-SDG 14 Challenge jinsabu fuq maltaenterprise.com. L-applikazzjoni għall-SDG 14 Challenge huma miftuħin mill-llum, l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Settembru 2023, sa nhar il-Ġimgħa, 12 ta’Jannar 2024.