First measure seeks to ensure security of supply of grains – further measures to be introduced in the coming weeks
The Malta Development Bank has launched the MDB Subsidised Loans Scheme following the approval of the European Commission under the Temporary Crisis Framework for State Aid. This support measure is intended to ensure the security of supply of grains, animal feeds and related products of strategic importance by assisting importers and wholesalers through the provision of temporary liquidity support.
In order to ensure food security in the wake of the war in Ukraine, the MDB is committed to assist importers and wholesalers to stock reserves of wheat and animal feeds for a longer period than normal. Such abnormal stock piling at the prevailing higher prices required substantial liquidity at short notice. The MDB was appointed by the Government to take immediate remedial action by providing urgent liquidity support in the form of direct subsidised loans to the major grain importers. The MDB Subsidised Loan Scheme offers a portfolio of up to €30 million loans to grain importers for a term of two years. Loans under this measure also benefit from an interest rate subsidy of up to 2%. The Scheme is available until 31 December 2022.
This scheme is the first of a package of support measures which the MDB will be rolling out over the coming weeks. The war in Ukraine is impacting all economic sectors and, in response. the MDB is devising schemes to facilitate access to liquidity to all undertakings affected by the current crisis.
The upcoming schemes – which will have broader eligibility – are intended to support those businesses facing liquidity issues as a result of the crisis in Ukraine. As in the case of the MDB COVID-19 Guarantee Scheme, the MDB will be offering de-risking instruments to enable the provision of more accessible and affordable working capital loans, thus reducing the impact on the affected economic operators. More information on the upcoming schemes will be provided in due course.
L-MDB jniedi l-ewwel miżura bħala parti minn pakkett t’għajnuniet fid-dawl tal-kriżi Ukrena
L-ewwel miżura hi intiża biex tiżgura s-sigurtà tal-provvista tal-qmuħ – aktar miżuri se jiġu introdotti fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin
Il-Bank Malti għall-Iżvilupp nieda l-iSkema ta’ Self Sussidjat tal-MDB wara l-approvazzjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea skont il-Qafas ta’ Kriżi Temporanja għall-Għajnuna tal-iStat. Din il-miżura ta’ appoġġ għandha l-għan li tiżgura s-sigurtà tal-provvista tal-qmuħ, għalf tal-annimali u prodotti relatati li huma ta’ importanza strateġika. Dan qed isir permezz ta’ għajnuna għall-importaturi u l-bejjiegħa bl-ingrossa permezz ta’ appoġġ fil-forma ta’ likwidità temporanja.
B’mod li tkun żgurata s-sigurtà tal-ikel fid-dawl tal-kriżi fl-Ukrajna, l-MDB hu kommess li jgħin lill-importaturi u lill-bejjiegħa bl-ingrossa biex jaħżnu riservi ta’ qamħ u għalf tal-annimali għall-perjodu itwal ta’ żmien.
L-MDB kien appuntat mill-Gvern biex jieħu azzjoni immedjata ta’ rimedju billi jipprovdi appoġġ għal-likwidità permess ta’ self sussidjat dirett lill-importaturi ewlenin tal-qamħ. L-iSkema ta’ Self Sussidjat tal-MDB toffri portafoll ta’ self fuq perjodu ta’ sentejn sa massimu ta’ €30 miljun għal dawn it-tip ta’ importaturi. Dan is-self jibbenefika wkoll minn sussidju fuq ir-rata tal-imgħax sa massimu ta’ 2%. L-Iskema se tkun disponibbli sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2022.
Din l-iskema hija l-ewwel minn pakkett ta’ miżuri t’appoġġ li se jkun qed iniedi l-MDB fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin. Il-gwerra fl-Ukrajna qed tħalli impatt fuq is-setturi ekonomiċi kollha u b’risposta għal dan, l-MDB qed iħejji skema biex tiffaċilita l-aċċess għal-likwidità lill-kumpaniji kollha li qed jintlaqtu minn din il-kriżi.
L-iskemi li se jitħabbru dalwaqt – li se jkollhom eliġibbiltà usa’ – huma intiżi biex jgħinu lil dawk il-kumpaniji li għandhom diffikultajiet ta’ likwidità. Bħall-każ tal-Iskema ta’ Garanzija tal-COVID-19 tal-MDB, il-Bank se joffri strumenti li jnaqqsu r-riskju biex jippermetti self fuq working capital aktar aċċessibbli u b’inqas spejjeż, u b’hekk jitnaqqas l-impatt fuq l-operaturi ekonomiċi kkonċernati. Aktar informazzjoni dwar dawn l-iskemi tingħata aktar ‘il quddiem.