Diaspora encouraged to initiate business in Moldova

Chisinau, 18 August /MOLDPRES/ – The Moldovans from abroad are urged to open businesses and invest in the Republic of Moldova. The economic programs and opportunities to promote the return and sustainable reintegration of migrants were presented during the Days of Diaspora by the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ODIMM).

The General Director of ODIMM, Iulia Iabanji, said that young entrepreneurs or those who already have got a business could benefit from various support instruments such as: grants, preferential loans, consultations and free training. In this context, the ODIMM’s Small and Medium Enterprises Support Programs were presented: Program for attracting remittances in PARE 1+1 economy, Loan Guarantee Fund, Pilot Program Women in Business, Business Consultancy Service.

"The ODIMM offers training, advice and business finance programs. We refer in particular to the PARE 1+1 Remittances Removal Program, which was launched at the end of 2010. The migrants return home with business ideas, desire and financial resources, but they do not always know how to start an affair. With PARE 1+1 Program, our citizens can benefit from consultancy and training within two weeks and have the opportunity to access a grant of up to MDL 250,000, which ceiling has been recently increased, and then, over a two-year post-financing period, the ODIMM’s advises and supports these beneficiaries to develop and expand their affairs," said Iulia Iabanji.

The ODIMM data show that from the launch until 01 June 2017 through this program, MDL 170 million were granted and the total amount of investments exceeded MDL 560 million. In total, there were created 1600 new jobs, including 500 for women and 450 for young people.

In order to convince representatives of the Diaspora about the efficiency of entrepreneurship support programs, two success stories of ODIMM program beneficiaries were presented.

The ODIMM develops and implements programs and projects designed to support the ideas of all entrepreneurs wishing to develop their own affairs. The ODIMM is a public institution created by the Government of the Republic of Moldova in 2007 and acts in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)