Small and Medium Enterprises play a pivotal role in the financial sector within the EU. They make up approximately 99% of all firms in the EU and between them employ around 65 million persons. Globally, SMEs account for 99% of business numbers and 40% to 50% of GDP. In many sectors, SMEs are also the driving force behind innovation and competition.

In order to support SMEs, the EU offers numerous funding opportunities. To this effect MEUSAC organised an information seminar on 16th September 2009 at the Hotel Ta’ Cenc in Ta’ Sannat, to help Gozitan SMEs identify those programmes that are most appropriate to their particular situation. This was also in line with the announcement made by the Prime Minister recently whereby MEUSAC will be seeking to support SMEs in identifying such opportunities. This will be facilitated by the opening of a joint MCESD/MEUSAC office in Gozo.

The Opening Address of the Seminar was delivered by the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information, Dr. Chris Said. The Seminar then focused on two programmes that can be utilised to develop the skills of the employees. The main speakers for this part of the seminar were Mr. Christian Cassar, Executive at ETC, and Mr. Ray Cassar, CEO Apex, together with Ms. Elizabeth Camilleri Fava, Project Coordinator for Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs.

The second part of the seminar focused on EU Programmes that can fund research for SMEs (FP7) together with programmes whose main is to eliminate market barriers (CIP). These were followed by a presentation on ENPI, a programme that aims at reinforcing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and partner countries and regions around the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Ms. Karen Fiorini from MCST, Mr. Pedro Fernandez Alvarez, CIP Malta National Contact Point, and Ms. Maria Schembri, MEUSAC’s Funding Unit Head tackled these 3 programmes.

The third and final part of this seminar focused on the schemes that are currently open. In fact, Mr. Ryan Borg, Senior Executive at Malta Enterprise delivered two presentations: one on the ERDF Research and Development Grant Schemes and the other on the Energy Grant Scheme. Given that the major business activity in Gozo is related to Tourism there was also a presentation on the Tourism Grant Schemes by Ms Daniela Mallia from the Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister.