Another 89 Moldovan companies received grants of 28.5 million lei for innovation and modernization
As reported by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), the grants were provided through several support programs: 21 companies - through the program of tourism support, 30 - through the program of women entrepreneurship, 14 - through the program “Start for Youth”, 8 - through the modernization program, 14 beneficiaries received funding through the PARE 1+2 and ecologization programs, 2 companies - through the competitiveness program. For these purposes, the Moldovan government allocated 18 million lei for 47 companies, the European Union will support 40 companies with 9.5 million lei, and 2 companies received grant of almost 0.8 million lei financing from the World Bank Group. The provided grants will be used by the companies to purchase high-efficiency equipment, digitalization of processes and consulting services. This financial assistance will allow companies to develop more competitive businesses, create better paying jobs and more opportunities for citizens across the country. The grant funds are expected to attract investments worth 57 million lei into the economy, as well as to create at least 400 new jobs (in addition to the 674 already existing in these companies). During the grant awarding ceremony, Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Doina Nistor stressed the importance of investments that support local businesses focused on innovation and added value. For his part, Máté Csicsai, Charge d'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Moldova, highlighted the positive impact of the European grants and the EU's constant commitment to the development of the SME sector. “Every time my team and I make working visits to different regions of the Republic of Moldova, we try to visit SMEs that have already received grants from the European Union. Each time we are pleased to see that the grants are used strategically by the entrepreneurs - be it for greening the business, digitalization or modernization of equipment - thus contributing to the creation of new jobs and expansion of markets. We are also happy that many of these enterprises are family-owned,” he said, stressing that the EU will continue supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, as they are the driving force for strengthening the economy and an important pillar of the recently approved Growth Plan for Moldova. According to ODA Director Vadim Codreanu, the interest of entrepreneurs in grants confirms that businesses come to life with support, stressing that each grant program was designed to respond to the real needs of the business environment. Since the beginning of 2025, 220 companies have received grants of 97 million lei through ODA. Of these, 162 companies received grants from the state budget, 54 received financial assistance from the European Union within the “EU for SMEs” project, and 4 companies were financed with funds from the World Bank Group. The assistance provided since the beginning of the year is expected to result in investments of 189 million lei for the companies. // 22.04.2025 - InfoMarket.
