The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the launch of a new project in Moldova - Future Technologies Activity (FTA).
The head of the USAID mission in Moldova, Scott Hocklander, notes that the FTA with a total budget of $32.8 million, envisaged for 5 years, will continue the work that has been carried out over the past 15 years with the support of USAID in the development of strategic sectors of the Moldovan economy. This project is a response to global trends in digitalization and innovation. The FTA will create opportunities for youth, investment and partnerships, while technology and innovation in all spheres of the economy will open up the future for Moldovan business. At the same time, the initiative will help improve the national legal framework for more efficient and competitive activities at the national and international levels in areas such as ICT, engineering, light industry, creative industry and digital media. This will help develop the technologies of the future that underpin the digital economy. It is assumed that upon completion of the project in June 2026, at least 600 companies will be involved in it, over 75 million investments will be attracted, over 100 innovations will be introduced in 15 international markets. Also, 15 business associations in the field of IT and innovation will be created, 45 initiatives have been proposed to support the digital economy, 50 courses have been held on adapting IT and innovation to market requirements and over 15 thousand new jobs in this industry have been created. “When we first started thinking about how USAID could truly help the economy here, we wanted to find several sectors that we believe have significant growth potential and distinctiveness. We found that digital and high tech is exactly what is missing here. This helped us develop the idea, bring together stakeholders and the necessary experts, create centers for development, learning and exchange of experience for key sectors,” said Scott Hocklander. He also emphasized that “USAID's goal is to build long-term partnerships that are able to independently follow a given development trajectory after we step back to watch the amazing things that happen from the outside. The essence of the Future Technologies is to take the next step - from industry competition to more productive, more interesting partnerships that will help us move to the next level. " In this sense, another project, previously implemented downtown Chisinau with the support of the US government, Artcor, which has become the main center for the development of creative industries in Moldova and the focus of the local creative community, can serve as an example. “Today, competition means innovation, creating new things that people need. We do not want Moldova to try to keep pace with development in areas in which people or even countries have already succeeded. We want the country to overcome this level and become a leader in these areas, to become a country whose leadership will spread more and more, first in the region, and then throughout the world,” said Scott Hocklander, Head of USAID Mission to Moldova. //15.11.2021 - InfoMarket.
