“Moldova's economy is showing clear signs of stabilization and is entering a new growth phase,” - Doina Nistor
The Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization made this statement at a press conference on Tuesday, where she presented the main achievements of the ministry's team during the current Cabinet's four-year term. Doina Nistor, who headed the ministry from March to October 2025, said that one of the most important results of her term was the strengthening of the financial infrastructure of SMEs, which are the backbone of the economy. "The Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) has become a true development partner, not just a grant provider. With a budget that has tripled since 2022, the ODA has financed nearly 2,300 projects, provided grants worth 1 billion lei, attracted investments worth over 2.1 billion lei, and supported 30,000 jobs. The SME Development Framework Program was recently approved—a unique, simplified tool with an increased grant limit of 3 million lei for complex investments. The Credit Guarantee Fund, which covers up to 80% of the cost of loans, has also been expanded and capitalized, removing the barrier of lack of collateral that prevented thousands of companies from accessing finance. Currently, 11% of all bank loans to SMEs are guaranteed by ODA. A legal framework has also been created for the Fund of funds, a mechanism through which public and private investors jointly finance Moldovan companies with growth potential," said Doina Nistor. Another important area has been digital transformation. According to the minister, the EVO platform has become a symbol of the modern state: more than 200,000 digital documents have been issued on its basis. "Today, 80% of entrepreneurs interact with government authorities in digital format, and 70% of business services are already available online. Digitalization is no longer a project, but a reality that saves time, reduces costs, and ensures transparency," the minister noted. She recalled the Freelancer Law, which will come into force in 2026: it provides for a simple and fair tax regime with a fixed rate of 15%, which includes medical and pension coverage for all self-employed workers in the service sector. The “3,000 lei for your first job” program has also been launched, which aims to support young people and develop human resources. In particular, young people employed in strategic industries receive an additional monthly allowance for 12 months. Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) has become a real driving force for development: it has registered more than 2,500 companies from 43 countries, which account for about 7% of GDP, and their revenue is expected to exceed €1 billion by the end of the year. The MITP Innovation Fund was also created with a capital of €5.5 million to finance product development and applied research, and Moldova joined the European EuroHPC initiative and became part of the European network of artificial intelligence factories through the FAIMA AI antenna. The National Program for Industrial Parks Development has been approved, with 250 million lei allocated for its implementation through the EU Development Plan. The new state aid scheme, worth 4 billion lei, provides support for up to 60% of investments in strategic sectors: from construction and agri-food to engineering and pharmaceuticals. Concluding her term, Doina Nistor noted that all conditions have been created for the economy to grow. “We have macroeconomic stability, confident entrepreneurs, and European partners who believe in us,” she emphasized. // 28.10.2025 — InfoMarket.
