Organization for Development of Entrepreneurship launched retechnology, energy efficiency program of SMEs

Chisinau, 9 Aug. /MOLDPRES/- The Organization for Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA) today launched the Retechnology and Energy Efficiency Program for Small and Medium Enterprises /SMEs/, which will support companies to increase their competitiveness and productivity on the national and international market, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

Under the Program, SMEs will receive non-reimbursable aid from the state worth up to 2 million lei for the technology and re-technology of businesses, and up to 1.5 million lei for the purchase of equipment that will ensure the reduction of energy consumption electricity, with at least 15% compared to the existing consumption.

Attending the event, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița said that the development of the Program was driven by both the current crises and the need to increase the competitiveness of domestic products, in the context in which 80% of them go to markets with high standards, such as the the EU and the United States of America. According to the prime minister, the low level of productivity and competitiveness, the use of machines with a low level of technological performance, but also the high consumption of electricity - all these factors stagnate the development process of the production sector in the Republic of Moldova.

"Through this Program, we aim to increase the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises, to replace inefficient technical equipment with modern technological solutions and to optimize production costs by implementing energy efficiency measures. Thus, we will help companies to be more efficient and competitive, we will contribute to reducing the pressure on the environment and we will come up with new solutions for the current global energy crisis, which requires us to be more efficient. I hope that this state investment will be useful for your business, it will contribute to the creation of jobs for our citizens and to the promotion of the Republic of Moldova at the international level", said Natalia Gavrilița.

For his part, Minister of Economy Sergiu Gaibu reiterated the importance of modernizing local businesses to maintain their sustainability. "Re-engineering and energy efficiency are priorities for business in our country, and the Program launched today will help us turn ideas into practice. We urge entrepreneurs to benefit from the conditions of the Program, to access the funds made available and to develop their business, renovating it", Gaibu pointed out.

ODA acting head Dumitru Pîntea presented the specifics of the new entrepreneurial support mechanism, which expands the institution's range of programs. "A prosperous business starts from modern technologies, lower costs, higher sales and satisfied consumers. This Program will offer businesses a competitive advantage on the market, resistance and access to investments, which can bring immediate economic effects through changing the basic production model, adapting to new technologies and opting for alternative sources of energy", he said.

Priority within the Program will be given to businesses that will demonstrate a positive evolution of economic indicators in the last 2 years of activity. They will be able to invest in the automation of the production process, the robotization of production, the implementation of IT solutions, the installation of solar and photovoltaic panels, as well as in machinery and installations for thermal heating. An important condition for participation in the Program is that the founders of the enterprise are citizens of the Republic of Moldova and own at least 75% of the enterprise/business property.

The renovation and energy efficiency program is supported by the Government for a period of 3 years, with the possibility of being extended, and for its implementation, in 2022, financial resources in the amount of 55 million lei have been allocated.

To participate in the Program, applicants will fill out a form on the official ODA page: https://bit.ly/3C04sbw. Program details: https://bit.ly/3A8ozTK.

Photo: Government