Support for Rental and Acquisition of Industrial Space

Malta Enterprise have launched a new scheme (hereinafter, the ‘Scheme’), providing support to eligible undertakings requiring industrial space for starting a new business, expanding operations, optimising supply chains or diversifying processes. The support combines cash grants and tax credits (utilisable within five years of certificate issuance) to facilitate the rental or purchase of private industrial premises. Applications under the Scheme may be submitted by 31 October 2030.

The total support under the Scheme is subject to the de minimis capping of €300,000 per single undertaking over any rolling three-year period. The approved support will be disbursed over a period of up to six years, with total annual disbursement capped at €50,000, disbursed as a cash grant in the first three years and as a tax credit for subsequent years. The aid intensity shall not exceed 50%.

Eligibility criteria 

At the point of application, undertakings must satisfy all of the following criteria:

a. Be a limited liability company, partnership, cooperative, or self-employed entity;
b. Employ less than 250 persons on a full-time basis;
c. Have no outstanding dues exceeding €1,000 in relation to VAT, Income Tax, or Social Security, unless a repayment agreement is in place;
d. Not be engaged in activities excluded under the de minimis Regulation; and
e. Not be subject to collective insolvency proceedings.

Furthermore, an applicant is required to either be a start-up as defined in the Scheme guidelines; or requires additional space in order to expand or diversify operations; or needs new industrial premises due to termination of a prior lease; or is acquiring industrial space in lieu of rented premises of an equivalent area.

In addition, an eligible undertaking is required to be engaged in one or more of the following qualifying activities:

a. Manufacturing activities;
b. Artisanal activities;
c. Industrial packaging activities;
d. Maintenance and repairs of motor vehicles;
e. Repair of machinery and electrical equipment; and
f. Industrial laundry services.

Eligible costs under the Scheme include:

• Rental costs: Up to six years of new rental agreements, provided the agreement commences not earlier than one year from the application date.
• Acquisition costs: The purchase of industrial premises, provided the purchase agreement is not finalised before the application submission. (For premises acquired between 1 January 2025 and 15 August 2025, applications may be submitted by 1 September 2025.) Support may also be provided to acquire premises currently being used by applicant on the basis of a rental agreement.

Copies of relevant rental agreements, in the case of rental costs, and promise of sale agreements (together with bank documentation related to funding of transaction, where applicable ) in the case of acquisition costs, are required to be submitted with the application.

No support is available for the rental or procurement of any property owned by related undertakings; public land and government owned property; and, showrooms, display areas and customer handling areas.

How can we help?

Deloitte Malta is able to assist in answering your queries, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us for any further guidance you may require.

In addition, Deloitte Malta is able to assist with the preparation of the required applications and any supporting documentation, as well as document submission and any required follow-ups.