This is not the first time that Bank of Valletta  has been identified as one of the best cases for the handling and implementation of the JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises)  scheme. In fact, Albert Frendo, Chief Officer Credit, was recently invited to an international conference held in Poland where he was asked to highlight the success so far in implementing JEREMIE in Malta in terms of product design, marketing and product up-take. 

BOV has already sanctioned 410 facilities, worth €34.4 million since the three-year programme was launched in April 2011 with micro smes being the highest beneficiaries of the scheme.

The conference “Innovative financial instruments supporting the SME sector” served as an educational platform for specialists from various fields, including economics, culture and the information society.  The meeting was dedicated to the role of financial engineering instruments in the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in Europe and in the Wielkopolska Region.

The Polish authorities organised the conference so that managing authorities and intermediaries from different European countries share their experience and practices in the utilisation of EU structured funds, with a view of the next programming period.  Particular emphasis was given to SMEs in their utilisation of EU funds to improve their competitiveness and achieve the EU 2020 objectives.

JEREMIE is a joint initiative launched by the European Commission (DG Regional Policy) and the European Investment Bank group to improve access to finance for SMEs in the EU within the Structural Funds framework for the period 2007-2013.