Enterprises from Moldova to be backed for accessing foreign markets

Chisinau, 28 October /MOLDPRES/ - The companies of Moldova willing to turn to account their products on foreign markets will be backed through the Support Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with high potential of their growth and internationalization. The programme was launched by the organization for the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises Sector Development (ODIMM). Grants worth up to 2 million lei could be accessed through this programme for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness.   

The SMEs working on market for at least two years, prove continuous growth and plan to extend on new sales markets or to replace the imports of products and services in Moldova can participate in the programme. Within the programme, the SMEs will benefit from information and consultative support, financial assistance and support in form of Business Voucher worth up to 50,000 lei and Grants amounting up to two million lei. The fields of activity eligible for the directions of use of the financial means meant for the development of agriculture and rural environment will be not allowed within the programme.      

Attending the online launch event, Economics and Infrastructure Minister Sergiu Railean said that the COVID-19 pandemic had created serious premises for re-thinking the instruments through which the economic growth is to be stimulated in Moldova and SMEs’ sector is to be supported. Railean also said that this programme was aimed at backing entrepreneurs through facilitating the access to financing, in order to improve the economic performances of companies and their adaptation to the foreign markets’ requirements.   

„We have great expectations from the results of the implementation of this state programme. We estimate an increase in the volume of investments in the national economy by about 180 million lei and at least 80 per cent of SMEs will promote their goods and services through national and international electronic platforms,’’ Sergiu Railean noted.  

According to ODIMM director general, Iulia Costin, the programme fits the present needs of development of the native SMEs. ‘’The Programme on Growth and Internationalization of SMEs is a starting point of native companies towards integration into international value chains: cooperation with new international partners; accessing of new markets, diversification of products/services to export, removing of emerged technical obstacles to trade, as well as orientation to clusters. More companies will enhance their innovating potential, the efficiency and quality of products and services, will be able to identify new foreign markets or potential partners of developing businesses,’’ Iulia Costin also said.      

For his part, a senior consultant at the World Bank, Tarik Sahovic, stressed that the institution would continue supporting the Moldovan authorities’ efforts in the field of business’ competitiveness.  

“The World Bank will continue backing the Moldovan cabinet in the sector of strengthening the SMEs’ competitiveness, in order to reach foreign markets, taking into account both the need of support in the unfriendly conditions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic on the business, as well as the results registered within similar projects financed by the World Bank. For instance, the Competitiveness Enhancement Project proved the necessity of investments in companies with export potential; thus, one dollar invested as co-financing for exporting companies generated about 9 dollars in sales at export is an outstanding result, which is to be replicated through other support projects as well,’’ the Bank’s representative said.   

The implementer of the programme is the Organization for the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises Sector Development, in coordination with the Economics and Infrastructure Ministry. The current support instrument will hold a piloting period of 36 months, for the implementation of which 40 million lei is provided for in the state budget.    

Photo: ODIMM