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The Italo-Maltese Chamber of Commerce informs businesses that the Internationalisation Strategy for SMEs scheme is currently open. The measure is designed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to explore foreign markets and develop a structured international growth strategy.

The scheme is promoted by the Measures and Support Division of the Government of Malta under the support schemes financed by the European Regional Development Fund for the 2021-2027 programming period. Its objective is to help businesses strengthen their competitiveness, plan their entry into new markets and improve their ability to promote products and services abroad.

The maximum support available is €20,000 per undertaking. Each business may submit up to two applications: one for Part 1, focused on studying opportunities abroad, and one for Part 2, focused on developing a strategy for one or more selected countries. Support for Part 1 is capped at €10,000, while the total combined grant for both applications cannot exceed €20,000.

Aid intensity depends on the type of business. Micro and small start-up enterprises up to five years following registration may receive support of up to 60% of eligible costs. Micro and small enterprises exceeding five years following registration, as well as medium-sized enterprises, may receive support of up to 50%.

The scheme is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in an economic activity, regardless of their legal form. For applications under Part 1, businesses must demonstrate that they have been actively trading for at least one year as of the application date.

The scheme finances the preparation of an internationalisation strategy by an external registered service provider that is autonomous and unrelated to the beneficiary business. The strategy may cover two separate stages. Part 1 supports the study of opportunities abroad, including the business overview, potential markets, global trends, feasibility assessment and recommendations on the most suitable target markets.

Part 2 focuses on the development of a strategy for one or more selected countries. The report may include country-specific analysis, market entry strategy, business positioning, marketing and sales activities, financial and operational planning, local partnerships, risk management and an action plan for the following twelve months.

The call will remain open until 31 December 2026, subject to the availability of funds. Applications will be assessed on a first come, first served basis. The initial budget allocated to the scheme is €500,000.

Funded activities must be implemented within 12 months from the signing of the funding agreement, for either a 6-month or 12-month implementation period depending on the application. Extensions may be considered when duly justified, but reports must be completed by 30 June 2029, unless updated in line with national targets.

Applications must be submitted online through the FONDI.eu system. Businesses will be required to provide, among other details, company information, enterprise size, NACE code, project location, type of strategy requested, target country or countries for Part 2, products or services to be exported, and an explanation of how internationalisation will improve the business model.

Reimbursement may be requested upon completion of the project or upon achievement of the accepted targets. For both parts, the first claim covers 80% of eligible expenditure. The remaining 20% is paid under specific conditions: for Part 1, once the agreement for Part 2 has been signed; for Part 2, once the action plan for the following year has been implemented.

For Italian and Italo-Maltese businesses operating in Malta, this scheme represents a concrete opportunity to assess new markets, prepare a structured international market entry strategy and turn export ambitions into a planned and sustainable growth path.

Companies interested in the scheme may contact the Italo-Maltese Chamber of Commerce for further information and to assess the opportunities available for their business.