We need to foster a culture of change in the Maltese commercial enterprise, it must become a way of life”.

Mr Dalli was flanked by parliamentary secretary for small business and the self employed Edwin Vassallo and Malta Enterprise chairman Joseph Zammit Tabona.

The first scheme concerns the food processing ventures and is aimed at helping small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt and implement food quality systems and undertake product developments. Those benefiting from these schemes – some 120 enterprises – will be able to improve the quality of their products, as well as widen their range.

The second is a health and safety scheme which will help the establishments that meet the criterion, expected to be in the range of 200 SMEs, to invest in health and safety and comply with European Union regulations.

“In the long run,” Mr Dalli said, “investment in health and safety is financially viable. Only those with a myopic view of business consider it an obstacle.”

The third scheme concerns the Ta Qali crafts village, which at the moment houses some 80 tenants. Dr Vassallo explained that this third scheme will help both the commercial establishments at Ta Qali and Maltese traditional crafts in general, because the funds are aimed specifically at those establishments that produce Maltese crafts. This scheme will help tenants obtain bank loans to purchase new workshops in the craft village by providing bank guarantees for 50 per cent of the loan and subsidising its interest for the first three years.

Malta Enterprise chairman Joseph Zammit Tabona said that in total, Malta Enterprise will be making available some Lm600,000 for the first two schemes.

The Ta’ Qali craft village scheme will be receive Lm1.2 million in the form of bank guarantees while the interest subsidies amount to Lm 54,000.

“We tried to make the application system as user-friendly as possible, the applications can be filled in easily and the waiting time for clearance will be short,” Mr Zammit Tabona said.

For more visit the website www.maltaenterprise.com or email [email protected]