Some 3,700 jobs have been created by SMEs in Moldova over the past decade, while around 2,500 companies have benefited from financial support, a conference in Chisinau heard on 17 May.
ODIMM, the Moldovan Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Sector Development Organisation, celebrated a decade of working for SMEs in the country at a high-level conference at the Republican Palace.
Over 100 people from central and local authorities, development partners, international projects and the business community attended the event, co-organised with EU4Business under its project to provide technical assistance for the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and the EU.
The conference included addresses by Vitalie Iurcu, Deputy Minister of Economy in the Moldovan Government, Pirkka Tapiola, EU Ambassador to Moldova, and Alexander Kremer, country manager for the World Bank.
During the decade of ODIMM’s activity, over 100,000 people have benefited from the organisation’s programmes and initiatives, Mr Iurcu pointed out.
Government to continue support for SMEs
More than 2,500 companies have received financial support amounting to approximately 235 million lei, nine business incubators have been opened, with two more expected to be launched this year, and over 3,700 new jobs created, Me Iurcu said.
The Government was committed to continuing its support for ODIMM and, through ODIMM, the Moldovan SME sector, he added.
The conference went on to highlight the impact of projects, programmes and actions carried out by ODIMM and how they have contributed to the development of the Moldovan entrepreneurship ecosystem through various mechanisms, including:
- regulatory framework reform
- promoting access to markets
- developing human capital
- facilitating access to finance
- providing support schemes, and
- promoting entrepreneurial education and training.
