MBR SEPTEMBER ALL LR

Malta Business Review AVIATION SMES
Malta Business Review
Following discussions between Ryanair and
the Maltese Government, Ryanair have
just announced a major expansion of flight
connections from Malta. This expansion will
add twelve new routes operated by Ryanair
starting from April 2018.
This was announced during today’s press
conference addressed by Minister for Tourism
Konrad Mizzi and Ryanair Chief Commercial
Officer David O’Brein. In order to operate
these new and additional routes, Ryanair will
be allocating an additional aircraft based in
Malta.
The additional routes will include the
following destinations:
• Aberdeen (Scotland)
• Belfast (Ireland)
• Gothenburg (Sweden)
• Porto (Portugal)
• Pescara (Italy)
• Seville (Spain)
• Tallinn (Estonia)
• Naples (Italy)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Paris Beauvais (France)
• Charleroi (Belgium)
As from April 2018 Ryanair will start to operate
twelve additional new routes. Air Malta and Ryanair in
discussions on a future collaboration.
Minister for Tourism Konrad Mizzi with Ryanair
Minister Mizzi expressed his satisfaction on
this major expansion, describing it as a ‘vote
of confidence in Malta’s tourism sector.’ He
said that this investment means that Ryanair
is confident to expect further growth in the
number of tourists coming to Malta in the
coming years.
Minister Mizzi explained that this
complements the government’s vision to
further increase Malta’s connectivity.
Also speaking about Air Malta, Minister Mizzi
and Mr O’Brein announced that Air Malta
and Ryanair are in discussions about a future
collaboration with each other. Ryanair and Air
Malta are considering collaboration on sales
and marketing initiatives, including leveraging
Ryanair’s web presence for sales.
The Minister thanked all key stakeholders
involved, particularly the Malta Tourism
Authority and the Malta International Airport,
which were crucial to make this major
investment happen. MBR
Source: Ministry for Tourism/NSO;
photo DOI James Borg
Hurricane Irma has left behind a trail of
unimaginable destruction. There truly is
a momentous task ahead restoring the
British Virgin Islands (BVI). People need
help rebuilding their lives and there is an
immediate and critical need for food, water
and shelter.
While we are incredibly thankful for everything
being done to help the BVI communities,
more help is needed. While many expats
have left, the local people have nowhere to
go. They need the world's attention now. This
appeal is not for Necker and Moskito Island –
it is about helping the local communities of
the BVI with basic survival and recovery.
When there’s a crisis, you really learn what
people are like. Thanks to everyone who
has shown their true colours by helping the
BVI in any way they can. We now need to
raise as much money as possible for the local
community. If you would like to support this
fundraising effort then please donate via
Virgin Unite’s donation page. MBR
Virgin Unite’s overheads are covered by
Richard Branson and the Virgin Group,
meaning that 100% of all donations received
will go directly to helping support local BVI
communities.
SMEs are a priority for Government -
Parliamentary Secretary Farrugia announces aid in the form of grants
Parliamentary Secretary Dr Aaron Farrugia
Parliamentary Secretary Dr Aaron Farrugia
announced the launch of a further two calls
under the Start-up Investment Grant Scheme
and the SME Growth Grant Scheme. These
are financial aid in the form of grants directly
towards entrepreneurships in order to help
them maximise their potential with direct
investment.
Farrugia noted that the Maltese Government
aims to strengthen small and medium
enterprises as these not only employ
thousands of people, but also greatly benefit
the Maltese economy. The Parliamentary
Shipping has never been so personal with
Attard Holdings. We can deliver anything
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with new destinations together with our
international network. Attard Holdings -
leaders in shipping, transportation,
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In collaboration with
Secretary noted that these businesses have
a lot of potential that sometimes gets lost
because of lack of capital. Farrugia stated that
“this aid is what the Maltese entrepreneurs’
need, in light of the challenges and limitations
that one could have in a global economy.”
The Schemes
With an indicative allocation of 2 million euro
Call 2 under the Start-up Investment Grant
Scheme is aimed at providing assistance
to micro and small enterprises established
for less than three years through a grant to
part-finance eligible expenditure in their
productive investment. This Grant Scheme
has an allocation of 7 million euro and eligible
enterprises may be assisted by a maximum
grant value of €300,000, part-financing up to
50% of eligible expenditure.
The call under the SME Growth Grant Scheme
with an indicative allocation of 2 million
euro shall seek to assist SMEs to respond to
market demands by part-financing eligible
expenditure on productive investment
required in the implementation of their
growth strategies related to the extension of
the capacity of an existing establishment, or
the setting up of a new establishment. This
Grant Scheme has an allocation of 8 million
euro and eligible enterprises may receive
assistance up to a maximum grant value
of €500,000 with aid intensity on eligible
expenditure of 35% for micro and small
enterprises and 25% for medium enterprises.
These Grant Schemes are financed under
Operational Programme I Cohesion Policy
2014 – 2020.
Both of these calls are competitive calls and
applications for project proposals will be
received up to noon of Friday, 20 October
2017. MBR
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