The Malta Development Bank (MDB) is stepping up its strategic mission to support Malta’s economic transformation, with an intensified focus in supporting access to finance for the country’s most critical sectors. The Bank is positioning itself as a key driver of resilience and competitiveness—ensuring Maltese businesses can weather economic uncertainty and emerge stronger and more innovative. This emerged from the presentation of the Bank’s Annual Report for 2024, which was released today.
From the green transition and digital innovation to SME and infrastructure support, the Bank’s strategy signals a clear shift toward long-term impact. Aligned with Vision 2050, the MDB is seeking to enhance its role as driver of progress in a globally changing environment.
In 2024, the Malta Development Bank extended its two flagship financing programmes—the SME Guarantee Scheme and the Guaranteed Co-Lending Scheme—reinforcing its commitment to supporting enterprise growth and investment. In the coming weeks, the Bank will further expand its offering with the launch of two new targeted initiatives: one aimed at accelerating investment in sustainable projects, and another dedicated to supporting Malta’s growing creative and cultural sectors.
The Bank also presented its financial statements for 2024, reporting a profit of €4.2 million. This follows a profit of €3.2 million in 2023, enabling the Bank to fully recover its start-up costs and bringing accumulated profits to €4.4 million, all while maintaining robust provisions for potential loan defaults. This financial result reflects disciplined cost control and strategic revenue generation—without turning away eligible, bankable projects.
MDB Chairman Mr Leo Brincat said: “Looking beyond past crises response, the MDB is uniquely positioned to unlock growth and economic potential through simplified tailored financial solutions. The future calls for a bold MDB forward looking approach. A road that calls for a marked shift towards stepped up strategic investment and innovation in the face of global macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics. The MDB must align its mandate with the parameters of Vision 2050, while focusing on driving sustainable and inclusive growth by addressing persistent access to finance challenges and driving productivity across key sectors.”
CEO Paul V Azzopardi added: “The Bank’s unique position allows it to serve a public policy purpose—addressing critical gaps in financing for SMEs and students—without relying on taxpayer funding and maintaining its autonomy from Government. This self-sustaining model ensures that the Bank, with proper ethical leadership, can continue its mission for years to come, contributing to socio-economic development and empowering individuals and businesses to succeed.”
The MDB Annual Report 2024 can be accessed HERE.
L-MDB jespandi l-appoġġ għas-setturi ewlenin li jixprunaw it-tkabbir ekonomiku ta’ Malta
Il-Bank Malti għall-Iżvilupp (MDB) qed isaħħaħ il-missjoni strateġika tiegħu li jappoġġja t-trasformazzjoni ekonomika ta’ Malta billi jiffoka b’mod aktar intensiv fuq l-iffaċilitar tal-aċċess għall-finanzi għall-aktar setturi kritiċi tal-pajjiż. Il-Bank qed jippożizzjona lilu nnifsu bħala aġent tar-reżiljenza u l-kompetittività, biex jiżgura li n-negozji Maltin ikunu jistgħu jegħlbu l-inċertezza ekonomika u joħorġu aktar b’saħħithom u aktar innovativi. Dan ħareġ mill-preżentazzjoni tar-Rapport Annwali tal-Bank għall-2024, li kien ippubblikat illum.
Mit-transizzjoni ambjentali u l-innovazzjoni diġitali għall-appoġġ immirat għall-SMEs u l-infrastruttura, l-istrateġija tal-Bank tirrifletti bidla ċara favur impatt fuq terminu itwal ta’ żmien. Fid-dawl tat-tnedija ta’ Viżjoni 2050 l-MDB qed ifittex li jkompli jkun forza għall-progress f’ambjent dejjem aktar kumpless.
Fl-2024, il-Bank estenda ż-żewġ programmi ta’ finanzjament ewlenin tiegħu, l-SME Guarantee Scheme u l-Guaranteed Co-Lending Scheme biex saħħaħ l-appoġġ tiegħu għat-tkabbir u l-investiment. Fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin, il-Bank se jespandi aktar l-prodotti tiegħu bit-tnedija ta’ żewġ inizjattivi mmirati ġodda, waħda mmirata għall-investiment f’proġetti sostenibbli u l-oħra dedikata għall-appoġġ għas-setturi kulturali u kreattivi li qed jikbru kull ma jmur iż-żmien.
Il-Bank ippreżenta wkoll id-dikjarazzjonijiet finanzjarji għall-2024 fejn ġie rappurtat profitt ta’ €4.2 miljun. Dan segwa profit ta’ €3.2 miljun fl-2023, li ppermettta lill-Bank jifdi l-ispejjeż kollha biex beda u biex jibni profitt akkumulat ta’ €4.4 miljun, filwaqt li żamm dispożizzjonijiet b’saħħitthom f’każ li jkun hemm xi self li ma jitħallasx lura. Dan ir-riżultat finanzjarju jirrifletti l-kontroll dixxiplinat tal-ispejjeż u l-ġenerazzjoni strateġija tad-dħul – mingħajr ma jiġu rifjutati proġetti eliġibbli u li jistħoqqilhom għajnuna bankarja.
Iċ-Chairman tal-MDB, is-Sur Leo Brincat, qal: “Lil hinn mir-rispons li l-Bank ipprovda fi kriżijiet riċenti, l-MDB jinsab f’pożizzjoni unika li jixpruna t-tkabbir u l-potenzjal ekonomiku permezz ta’ soluzzjonijiet finanzjarji mmirati u simplifikati. Il-futur jitlob li l-MDB jadotta strateġija kuraġġjuża u li tħares ‘il quddiem. It-triq tal-ġejjieni titlob bidla fid-direzzjoni lejn investiment strateġiku u innovazzjoni fid-dawl ta’ inċertezzi makroekonomiċi globali u bidliet fid-dinamiċi kummerċjali. L-MDB għandu jallinja l-mandat tiegħu mal-parametri tal-Viżjoni 2050, filwaqt li jiffoka fuq ħidma li tixpruna tkabbir sostenibbli u inklussiv billi jindirizza l-isfidi persistenti tal-aċċess għall-finanzi u jixpruna l-produttività fost setturi ewlenin.”
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv Paul V Azzopardi qal: “Il-pożizzjoni unika tal-Bank tipermettilu jservi skop ta’ politika pubblika – li jindirizza nuqqasijiet kritiċi fil-finanzjament tal-SMEs u l-istudenti – mingħajr ma jiddependi fuq finanzjament minn min iħallas it-taxxi u b’mod awtonomu mill-Gvern. Dan il-mudell sostenibbli jippermettti lill-Bank, b’tmexxija etika, jkompli l-missjoni tiegħu għas-snin li ġejjin, b’konttribut għall-iżvilupp soċjo-ekonomiku u biex jippermetti individwi u negozji jirnexxu”.
Ir-Rapport Annwali tal-MDB 2024 hu disponibbli HAWN