New grants programme for Diaspora launched in Moldovan capital

Chisinau, 12 February /MOLDPRES/ - A grants programme titled, Diaspora Engagement Hub, was launched in the presence of Prime Minister Pavel Filip today. The programme promotes innovative initiatives of the Diaspora via providing grants. Thus, till 31 March 2017, Diaspora citizen may apply for 39 topic-related grants worth 125,000 Swiss francs – a sum offered by the Swiss Agency for development and Cooperation, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.  

Prime Minister Pavel Filip said the launch of the new grants programme took place in an appropriate context, when consolidation of Diaspora’s expertise is needed more than ever to back Moldova. “A priority of the cabinet I lead is the improvement of people’s living standards and the country’s economic development. The government has full openness to facilitate the transfer of powers, professional experience, knowledge, good practices from representatives of our Diaspora to those from the country, as this fact may eventually mean more performance for Moldova,” the prime minister said.   

In this context, Pavel Filip voiced confidence that the Moldovans from abroad willing to get involved in Moldova’s development would do this including through the grants programme. “We are aware that our friends, brothers and sisters, who have chosen to work outside Moldova, are depositors of professional experience which could certainly be useful in our effort for the country’s development,” Pavel Filip said.  

The prime minister also said he was determined to regain the trust of the Diaspora citizens by concrete and efficient actions of the government. In this respect, the official pointed out his support for the programmes of the Diaspora relations Bureau (BRD) of the State Chancellery. The Bureau, along with the Moldova-based mission of the International Organisation for Migration, implement a project titled, Strengthening Moldova’s Institutional Framework in Migration and Development Sector, within which the grants programme, Diaspora Engagement Hub, launched today, is carried out.     

At the same time, the prime minister said that other concrete actions, the government is due to undertake in this field, would focus on the approval of the Diaspora 2025 National Strategy.

(Editor L. Alcaza)