Luciano Afonso, director Dogwalker, Tom Wirion, director general Chamber of Trades, Lex Delles, minister for small and medium-size enterprises, Marc Wagener, COO et director entrepreneurship Chamber of Commerce ; Guy Masselter, director MOMA Schräinerei Chambre de commerce/Emmanuel Claude

Luciano Afonso, director Dogwalker, Tom Wirion, director general Chamber of Trades, Lex Delles, minister for small and medium-size enterprises, Marc Wagener, COO et director entrepreneurship Chamber of Commerce ; Guy Masselter, director MOMA Schräinerei Chambre de commerce/Emmanuel Claude

A new programme of SME-Packages was unveiled on Thursday by the government, chamber of commerce and chamber of crafts.

Under a new scheme aimed at providing what minister for small and medium-size enterprises Lex Delles calls “targeted and effective support”, companies will be able to apply for help worth up to €25,000 in one of three categories.

A Sustainability package will support companies implement concrete solution to reduce their environmental impact, particularly in terms of energy, water, waste and carbon footprint. Given the current energy crisis, the energy package is being implemented as a priority to allow businesses to rapidly increase their energy performance, the ministry says.

A Service programme is aimed at improving the customer experience so that companies can build customer loyalty.

And a Digital package will help businesses in their transition and implementation of digital marketing, management and electronic invoicing.

Backbone of the economy

Delles, who was accompanied by Marc Wagener, COO and director of entrepreneurship at the Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Wirion, director general of the Chamber of Crafts, said that SME-Packages programme “takes into account the economic environment of companies and offer concrete solutions that are indispensable in times of crisis.” Saying small and medium-sized enterprises “constitute the backbone of the Luxembourg economy”, the minister added that the support programmes also “demonstrate the close and fruitful collaboration of his administration with the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Trades.

“The SME-Packages enable companies to achieve concrete and operational results by implementing support tailored to their needs,” said Wagener. He said the programme was “a perfect complement” to the House of Entrepreneurship’s range of services to support entrepreneurs and help businesses in the dual energy and digital transition.

Wirion said the Chamber of Trades welcomed the extension of the SME-Packages to target sustainability. “Artisans are ready to help businesses in their efforts to operate more efficiently and with a reduced carbon footprint,” he concluded.