The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, through the Malta Food Agency, has announced the launch of the Business Expansion Pilot Initiative, a new measure aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of local producers and facilitating their access to the domestic market.
This initiative is designed to address the structural challenges faced by small producers in the agri-food sector, particularly when seeking to enter or expand into supermarkets, the hospitality sector (HoReCa), digital platforms and other organised markets. These challenges include requirements related to professional packaging, labelling, product testing, logistics and compliance with market standards. Through this initiative, producers will be provided with financial support to carry out essential investments that will allow them to expand in a professional and sustainable manner.
The scheme will cover up to 70% of eligible costs on a reimbursement basis, and includes investments in branding and rebranding, packaging design and development, labelling and regulatory compliance, as well as access to digital systems and online sales platforms.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights said that this initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to continue strengthening the Maltese agri-food sector, which is built on a strong tradition of small and family producers producing high-quality products. He stressed that the initiative not only supports individual businesses, but also contributes to strengthening the food chain and the rural economy. The Minister added that the Government remains committed to reducing barriers to market access and creating more opportunities for Maltese producers to grow, innovate and expand their presence in the local market.
The Chief Executive of the Malta Food Agency, Brian Vella, said that the Maltese agri-food sector is an economic pillar and an essential part of the national identity, built on the dedication of producers who deliver high-quality products every day. He stressed that through this initiative, a concrete step is being taken to provide producers with the necessary tools to advance their business and strengthen the presence of Maltese products in the market. He added that the Agency’s vision is to see more local products on shelves and menus, with increasing success for Maltese and Gozitan businesses, while this contributes to strengthening the economy and national identity.
Justin John Camilleri, Chief Business Development Officer of the Malta Food Agency said that this initiative represents an important step for the agency because it is the first of its kind within the Agency. He explained that the initiative will be providing direct assistance to local food producers to continue strengthening their commercial capacity. The development of this initiative was done precisely to help Maltese and Gozitan producers invest in preparing their product for the needs of the market, thus creating more opportunities and strengthening the presence of local products in these same markets.
The Business Expansion Pilot Initiative is also a pilot initiative, where its impact will be closely monitored in order to evaluate the results and, where necessary, consider its expansion in the future. A robust governance framework will be applied, including a Selection and Awarding Committee and coordination with the State Aid Monitoring Board, to ensure transparency, consistency and full compliance with the applicable rules. This initiative confirms the Government’s commitment to continue strengthening the Maltese agri-food sector through a policy that promotes competitiveness, innovation and sustainability, while creating more growth opportunities for all local producers.
The application form will be available on www.foodagency.mt, while for any questions or clarifications one can send an email to initiatives.mfa@gov.mt
Photos: MAFA
