{"id":53086,"date":"2025-11-10T17:18:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=53086"},"modified":"2025-11-10T17:18:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:18:29","slug":"ekonomija-bsahhitha-futur-ghal-uliedna-extension-of-the-business-enhance-scheme-for-more-maltese-enterprises-to-strengthen-their-competitiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/10\/ekonomija-bsahhitha-futur-ghal-uliedna-extension-of-the-business-enhance-scheme-for-more-maltese-enterprises-to-strengthen-their-competitiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Ekonomija b\u2019Sa\u0127\u0127itha \u2013 Futur g\u0127al Uliedna: Extension of the Business Enhance\u00a0Scheme for more Maltese Enterprises to strengthen their competitiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi announced an extension of the Business Enhance Scheme, with \u20ac10 million in European funds available for projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises through investments in technology, innovation, and sustainable productivity.<\/p>\n<p>This announcement was made during a visit to the Kingstone Ltd factory, an enterprise that benefitted from this scheme to invest in advanced technological equipment in the field of stone and ceramic processing.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister praised the contribution of European funds in building a modern and competitive economy, stating that the Government will continue supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to become more resilient and digital.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuropean funds are giving a direct boost to small businesses to innovate and grow. Through the Business Enhance Scheme and other programmes under the ERDF, we have already committed more than \u20ac28 million in over 440 grant agreements. At present, seven schemes are open, with \u20ac10 million specifically dedicated to projects that increase business competitiveness. These are funds that are translating into more jobs, greater productivity, and enhanced competitiveness for the Maltese economy,\u201d said Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister added that this initiative goes hand in hand with the measures announced in Budget 2026, which include an unprecedented investment of \u20ac100 million in digitalisation and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity, also supported by European funds and other schemes under various Government agencies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBudget 2026 sets out a clear vision \u2013 an economy that looks to the future, built on innovation and digital skills. European funds will be instrumental in turning this vision into reality,\u201d the Minister emphasised.<\/p>\n<p>Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi thanked Kingstone Ltd for its commitment to remain a competitive investor, while encouraging more businesses to come forward and apply for these aid schemes.<\/p>\n<p>Through European funds, Kingstone Ltd received \u20ac56,175 in assistance under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with a co-financing rate of 60% from the European Union and 40% in national funds.<\/p>\n<p>The Business Enhance Scheme has been extended until June 2026 and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, and the Just Transition Fund 2021\u20132027, under the priority \u201cA more competitive and smarter Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Photo: DOI\/MFI<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_53086\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"53086\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi announced an extension of the Business Enhance Scheme, with \u20ac10 million in European funds available for projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises through investments in technology, innovation, and sustainable productivity. This announcement was made during a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_53086\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"53086\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi announced an extension of the Business Enhance Scheme, with \u20ac10 million in European funds available for projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises through investments in technology, innovation, and sustainable productivity. This announcement was made during a&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53088,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53086\/revisions\/53088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}