As part of its efforts towards enhancing access to finance in Malta, the MDB brought together key stakeholders from the commercial banking sector to foster strategic dialogue and deliberate on the collaboration needed towards this objective.
The meeting, held at the MDB’s premises in Floriana and led by its Chairman Mr Leo Brincat and CEO Mr Paul V. Azzopardi, underscored the significance of collective efforts in fostering a fairer transition towards green and digital initiatives.
Acknowledging the pressing need for sustainable economic development in Malta, Mr Brincat emphasised the crucial role of banks as financiers of the transition to green and digital economies. “The Pandemic experience, when nine local banks joined forces with the MDB to implement the COVID-19 Guarantee Scheme, is a tangible example of the potential that such collaboration can reserve for the Maltese economy, where half a billion euro in liquidity was mobilised.”
Bank representatives acknowledged that the MDB played an enabling role to support businesses, working with commercial banks rather than competing with them.
The discussions centred on streamlining lending processes while ensuring prudence, offering tailored financial products, making optimal use of guarantees and risk-sharing instruments, and leveraging partnerships to mitigate risks associated with sustainable investments.
Mr Brincat reiterated MDB’s unwavering commitment to serve as a catalyst and gateway for transformative change, emphasising the Bank’s role in providing accessible financing solutions to promote inclusive growth and sustainability. He stressed the importance of ensuring that financial incentives are in tune with the national objectives, in order to support the country’s competitiveness.
In his address, Mr Brincat also commended the proactive engagement of commercial banks in recognising the evolving landscape of sustainable finance, and their willingness to collaborate in advancing shared objectives. He emphasised the need for sustained dialogue and collective action to address the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the green and digital transition.
Mr Leo Brincat reiterated that “as Malta continues its journey towards a more sustainable and technology-driven future, the collaborative efforts between the MDB and commercial banks are poised to play a pivotal role in driving positive change and ensuring a fairer transition for all.”
L-MDB jiġbor flimkien l-imsieħba ewlenin fis-settur bankarju biex isaħħaħ id-djalogu strateġiku u l-kollaborazzjoni
Bħala parti mill-isforzi tiegħu biex itejjeb l-aċċess finanzjarju f’Malta, l-MDB ġabar flimkien l-imsieħba ewlenin mis-settur bankarju kummerċjali biex isaħħaħ id-djalogu strateġiku u jiddiskuti kif jista’ iżid il-kollaborazzjoni meħtieġa.
Il-laqgħa, li saret fl-uffiċċji tal-MDB fil-Floriana, u li kienet immexxija miċ-Chairman tal-Bank, is-Sur Leo Brincat, u l-Kap Eżekuttiv, is-Sur Paul V. Azzopardi ffukat fuq is-sinifikat tal-ħidma kollettiva favur transizzjoni aktar ġusta, lejn inizjattivi ambjentali, u diġitali.
Filwaqt li għaraf il-ħtieġa urġenti ta’ żvilupp ekonomiku sostenibbli f’Malta, is-Sur Brincat enfasizza r-rwol kruċjali tal-banek biex jiffinanzjaw it-transizzjoni lejn ekonomiji ambjentali u diġitali. “L-esperjenza tal-Pandemija, fejn disa’ banek lokali ħadmu id f’id mal-MDB biex jimplimentaw l-Iskema ta’ Garanzija tal-COVID-19 kienet eżempju tanġibbli ta’ x’tista’ ssarraf din il-kollaborazzjoni għall-ekonomija Maltija, fejn irnexxilna nimmobilizzaw nofs biljun ewro f’likwidità.”
Ir-rappreżentanti tal-banek għarfu li l-MDB għandu rwol fl-appoġġ għan-negozji flimkien mal-banek kummerċjali, u mhux f’ kompetizzjoni magħhom.
Id-diskussjonijiet iffukaw fuq kif tista’ titnaqqas il-burokrazija fil-proċess ta’ self b’ mod prudenti, l-offerta ta’ prodotti finanzjarji ddiżinjati għal ħtiġijiet speċifiċi, l-użu ottimali ta’ garanziji u kif sħubiji kummerċjali jistgħu jnaqqsu xi riskji li jġibu magħhom investimenti sostenibbli.
Is-Sur Brincat ġedded l-impenn sħiħ tal-MDB biex iservi ta’ katalist u ta’ faċilitatur għal bidla trasformattiva, u enfasizza r-rwol tal-Bank biex jipprovdi soluzzjonijiet ta’ finanzjament aċċessibbli biex jippromwovi t-tkabbir inklussiv u s-sostenibbiltà. Hu enfasizza l-importanza li l-inċentivi finanzjarji jimxu id f’id mal-oġġettivi nazzjonali, bl-għan li jingħata appoġġ għall-kompetittività ta’ pajjiżna.
Fl-indirizz tiegħu, is-Sur Brincat faħħar l-impenn attiv tal-banek kummerċjali li għarfu x-xejriet ġodda fis-settur tal-finanzjament sostenibbli, u r-rieda tagħhom li jaħdmu flimkien biex jitmexxew ‘il quddiem oġġettivi komuni. Hu enfasizza l-bżonn ta’ djalogu sostnut u azzjoni kollettiva biex jiġu indirizzati l-isfidi u biex l-imsieħba jikkapitalizzaw mill-opportunitajiet li ġġib magħha t-transizzjoni ambjentali u diġitali.
Is-Sur Leo Brincat insista li “hekk kif Malta tkompli l-vjaġġ tagħha lejn futur aktar sostenibbli xprunat mit-teknoloġija, l-isforzi kollaborattivi bejn l-MDB u l-banek kummerċjali se jkunu qed jilagħbu rwol kruċjali biex iwasslu bidla pożittiva u biex tkun żgurata transizzjoni ġusta għal kulħadd”.
