Since the launch of the Livada Moldovei (the Fruit Garden of Moldova) program in 2016, more than 530 companies have received loans totaling 92 million euros on favorable terms.
The EU Delegation in Moldova reported this, noting that only in 2023, loans worth about 16.5 million euros were granted to economic agents, financing 109 initiatives of Moldovan farmers. This year, the eligibility criteria for the Livada Moldovei program were extended to cover not only horticulture, but also the entire agri-food sector. Thus, from 2024, economic agents engaged in horticulture, viticulture, animal husbandry, fish farming and fishery production, tourism, beekeeping and cereal crops cultivation will be able to obtain, under the Livada Moldovei program, financing for business development under more favorable conditions: the loan term will be up to 10 years, the grace period will be 4 years, and the interest rate and financial ceiling will be attractive. Another 28 million euros are available for business development purposes. The EU Delegation in Moldova also recalled that Moldovan products are more and more appreciated on the European markets. The regulation, which allows Moldovan farmers to export 2 times more products in 7 categories (plums, grapes, apples, grape juice, cherries, tomatoes and garlic) to the EU without paying customs duties, was extended for another 1 year. The quotas were increased substantially, Moldovan agricultural producers, however, could not cover all export quotas during the year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 64% of Moldova's exports went to the European Union in January-September 2023 and this figure is 5% higher than in the same period last year. // 26.12.2023 - InfoMarket.
