USAID is allocating 5 million lei to promote digitization, innovation and entrepreneurship programs among SMEs.
This is provided for by a cooperation agreement signed between USAID, the Moldovan Ministry of Economy and the Organization for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises Sector in Moldova (ODIMM). The agreement aims at modernizing and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, digital transformation and implementation of digital innovations in business in Moldova. The cooperation will be aimed at developing and implementing support programs for Moldovan SMEs. In particular, in 2022-2026 partners intend to implement 2 national programs: Program for digital transformation of small and medium-sized businesses and Program to support digital innovation and technology start-ups. Under the programs, SMEs will receive grants to digitize their businesses and implement innovations. In particular, technological start-ups will receive grants of up to 80% of the costs related to the development and promotion of products and/or services, but not exceeding 500 thousand lei. ODIMM will provide more details about these programs later, but in June, they will start accepting applications for participation and grants. The head of the USAID mission in our country, Scott Hocklander, said that with instability in supply chains, rising energy prices, rising inflation and continuing economic uncertainty, small and medium-sized enterprises need more than ever to find ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability. Investing in innovation and digital solutions in response to these challenges - supply chain management, e-commerce, automation and digital marketing - will increase the resilience and competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises not only before the current crisis, but also in the future. ODIMM's Interim-Director Dumitru Pintea said Moldovan SMEs need expertise and mentoring to be aware of the need to invest in digital and innovative technologies. According to him, the partnership with USAID and the Ministry of Economy will add value to Moldova's business environment, enhance the entrepreneurial culture, the level of digitization across the country, the transfer of technology, know-how and, last but not least, the competitiveness of economic agents in local and international markets. Let us remind that the Moldova Future Technologies Activity Project funded by USAID and Sweden supports development of a digital, creative and environmentally friendly economy. The project with budget of $32.8 million is for 5 years (2021-2026) and aims to work in the following strategic sectors of Moldova: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), engineering, light industry, creative industries and digital media - to improve their competitiveness and integration into the global market. // 19.04.2022- InfoMarket.
