- The operation will promote sustainable mobility, renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and recycling.
- Complementary agreement signed through which the EIB will provide MDB with advisory services to identify and implement eligible green projects.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Malta Development Bank (MDB) are joining forces to boost the green transition of small and medium-sized companies and public sector entities. To this end, the EIB will provide MDB with a €30 million loan to finance much-needed small-scale green investments on favourable conditions.
Thanks to this new agreement, MDB will provide access to credit to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-caps and local authorities willing to invest in projects that contribute to the fight against adverse climate change. MDB will pass on the EIB’s favourable financing conditions and a longer repayment period to final beneficiaries, enabling entities that plan to invest in sustainable projects to make major financial savings. Through this agreement, the EIB will be leveraging on MDB’s market positioning, local outreach, and ability to channel funds in Malta.
Investments eligible under this programme include a wide range of green initiatives such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar photovoltaic installations, energy efficiency in both public and private buildings, as well as waste recycling projects.
Moreover, in addition to the €30 million financing, a separate agreement between the two institutions will enable MDB to benefit from the EIB’s advisory services to expand its environmental sustainability capacity and financing. The EU bank’s advisory services — developed under the Green Gateway programme launched by the EIB and the European Commission — will help MDB build capacity in sourcing and assessing the eligibility of green projects while supporting them in reporting to the EIB.
This partnership will not only have a positive environmental impact but will also support employment in Malta by financing small-scale private and public investments throughout the country.
EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said: “This agreement underscores the EIB’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and environmental responsibility in Malta. The advisory services provided under the Green Gateway will be crucial to support MDB’s commitment to boosting the green transition of SMEs, local authorities and communities across the country, enhancing climate action and economic development.”
MDB Chairman Prof Josef Bonnici stated: “As Malta’s only promotional bank, MDB is committed to continue helping the local economy to grow sustainably. Thanks to MDB’s collaboration with the EIB, MDB will be in a better position to roll out schemes and support businesses and public sector entities to contribute towards Malta’s climate-related targets.”
Background information
European Investment Bank (EIB)
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It provides long-term financing for sound investments that contribute to EU policy. The Bank finances projects in four priority areas: infrastructure, innovation, climate and environment, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Green Gateway
Financed with InvestEU Advisory Hub funds, the Green Gateway advisory programme was created by the EIB together with the European Commission to enable European financial institutions to invest in green projects. The Green Gateway’s advisory services aim to strengthen the skills, procedures and operational tools of EIB financial intermediaries to promote the planning, selection and financing of initiatives with positive environmental impact. The Green Gateway also offers an online portal full of guidelines, case studies and useful information on green investment. The portal provides access to the Green Eligibility Checker, a tool making it possible to assess the eligibility and climate impact of green economy investment projects in various sectors.
Malta: €30 miljun mill-BEI għall-MDB biex titħaffef it-transizzjoni ekoloġika
- Dan il-ftehim se jippromwovi l-mobilità sostenibbli, il-produzzjoni tal-enerġija li tiġġedded, l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija u r-riċiklaġġ
- Iffirmat ukoll ftehim li permezz tiegħu l-BEI se jipprovdi lill-MDB servizzi ta’ konsulenza biex jiġu identifikati u implimentati proġetti ekoloġiċi u sostenibbli
Il-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment (BEI) u l-Bank Malti għall-Iżvilupp (MDB) qed jissieħbu biex jagħtu spinta lit-transizzjoni ekoloġika tal-kumpaniji żgħar u medji u tal-entitajiet tas-settur pubbliku. Għal dan l-għan, il-BEI se jipprovdi lill-MDB b’self ta’ €30 miljun biex jiffinanzja investimenti ekoloġiċi żgħar iżda meħtieġa, b’kundizzjonijiet favorevoli.
Permezz ta’ dan il-ftehim ġdid, l-MDB se jipprovdi aċċess għall-intrapriżi żgħar u medji (SMEs), mid-caps u awtoritajiet lokali li jridu jinvestu fi proġetti li jagħtu kontribut għall-ġlieda kontra l-bidla fil-klima. L-MDB se jgħaddi l-kundizzjonijiet ta’ finanzjament favorevoli tal-BEI lill-benefiċjarji finali, biex l-entitajiet li jippjanaw li jinvestu fi proġetti sostenibbli jiffrankaw spejjeż sostanzjali u jkunu jistgħu jissellfu iktar fit-tul. Permezz ta’ dan il-ftehim, il-BEI se jkun qed jagħmel użu mill-pożizzjoni fis-suq u l-kuntatti lokali tal-MDB mal-banek kummercjali f’Malta.
L-investimenti eliġibbli taħt dan il-programm jinkludu firxa wiesa’ ta’ inizjattivi ekoloġiċi fosthom infrastruttura għall-iċċarġjar tal-vetturi elettriċi, installazzjonijiet fotovoltajiċi solari, effiċjenza fl-enerġija f’bini pubbliku u privat, kif ukoll proġetti ta’ riċiklaġġ tal-iskart.
Aktar minn hekk, barra mill-finanzjament ta’ €30 miljun, ftehim separat bejn iż-żewġ istituzzjonijiet se jippermetti lill-MDB biex jibbenefika mis-servizzi ta’ konsulenza tal-BEI biex jespandi l-kapaċità u l-finanzjament tiegħu fil-qasam tas-sostenibbiltà ambjentali. Is-servizzi ta’ konsulenza tal-bank tal-UE – żviluppati taħt il-programm Green Gateway imniedi mill-BEI u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea se jgħinu lill-MDB biex jibni l-kapaċità tiegħu biex jidentifika u jevalwa l-eliġibilità ta’ proġetti ekoloġiċi filwaqt li jappoġġjahom fir-rappurtaġġ lill-BEI.
Din is-sħubija mhux biss se jkollha impatt ambjentali pożittiv iżda se tappoġġja wkoll l-impjiegi f’Malta permezz tal-finanzjament ta’ investimenti privati u pubbliċi fuq skala iżgħar madwar il-pajjiż.
Il-Viċi-President tal-BEI Gelsomina Vigliotti qalet: “Dan il-ftehim jirrifletti l-impenn tal-BEI li jixpruna tkabbir ekonomiku sostenibbli u responsabbiltà ambjentali f’Malta. Is-servizzi ta’ konsulenza provduti taħt il-Green Gateway se jkunu kruċjali għall-impenn tal-MDB biex isaħħaħ it-transizzjoni ekoloġika tal-SMEs, l-awtoritajiet lokali u l-komunitajiet lokali madwar il-pajjiż, u biex tkompli tissaħħaħ l-azzjoni favur il-klima kif ukoll l-iżvilupp ekonomiku”.
Iċ-Chairman tal-MDB Prof Josef Bonnici qal: “Bħala l-uniku bank promozzjonali f’Malta, l-MDB hu impenjat biex ikompli jgħin lill-ekonomija lokali tikber b’mod sostenibbli. Grazzi għall-kollaborazzjoni tal-MDB mal-BEI, l-MDB se jkun f’pożizzjoni aħjar biex iniedi skemi u jappoġġja lin-negozju u lill-entitajiet tas-settur pubbliku biex jagħti kontribut għall-miri ta’ Malta marbuta mal-klima”.
Informazzjoni ta’ Sfond
Il-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment (BEI)
Il-Bank Ewropew tal-Investiment (BEI) huwa l-istituzzjoni ta’ self fit-tul tal-Unjoni Ewropea, proprjetà tal-Istati Membri. Dan jipprovdi finanzjament fit-tul għal investimenti sodi li jagħtu kontribut għall-politika tal-UE. Il-Bank jiffinanzja proġetti f’erba’ oqsma ta’ priorità: infrastruttura, innovazzjoni, klima u ambjent, u intrapriżi żgħar u medji (SMEs).
Green Gateway
Iffinanzjat mill-fondi tal-InvestEU Advisory Hub, il-programm ta’ konsulenza Green Gateway inħoloq mill-BEI flimkien mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea biex l-istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji Ewropej ikunu jistgħu jinvestu fi proġetti ekoloġiċi. Is-servizzi ta’ konsulenza ta’ Green Gateway għandhom l-għan li jsaħħu l-ħiliet, il-proċeduri u l-għodda operattivi tal-intermedjarji finanzjarji tal-BEI biex issir promozzjoni tal-ippjanar, l-għażla u finanzjament tal-inizjattivi b’impatt ambjentali pożittiv. Il-Green Gateway toffri wkoll portal elettroniku mimli linji gwida, studji ta’ każijiet u informazzjoni utli dwar investiment ekoloġiku. Il-portal jipprovdi aċċess għal Green Eligibility Checker, għodda li tippermetti l-assessjar tal-eliġibilità u l-impatt fuq il-klima ta’ proġetti ta’ investiment fl-ekonomija l-ħadra f’setturi differenti.