Ministry of Agriculture, LEADER Network signed memorandum of cooperation

Chisinau, Oct. 7 /MOLDPRES/- Memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) and the National LEADER Network was signed yesterday during the LEADER Conference, the 2nd edition, held in Chisinau on 6-7 October.

"The government is aware of the need to increase the resilience of rural areas and will take concrete steps to develop the economic environment and improve the organizational skills of local communities. Thus, increased emphasis will be placed on achieving the following strategic goals: the economic development of the rural communities covered by the LAGs, under the expansion of partnerships and the implementation of local development strategies, the maintenance and creation of new jobs, the diversification of economic activities, the improvement of capacity administration of local communities, improving the living conditions and well-being of the rural population, protecting the local cultural and natural heritage", Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea said.

The National LEADER program was launched this summer and is financed up to 5% from the National Fund for Agricultural Development and Rural Environment. Thus, the Republic of Moldova is the first country in the Eastern Partnership to implement the LEADER Program. At the same time, within the first call of the LEADER program, the ministry selected and approved the financing of 37 Local Action Groups, worth about 17.3 million lei (approximately 850 thousand euros) for 2022- 2023.

The LEADER conference, the 2nd edition, is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, in partnership with the LEADER Network and Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, with the EU support under the EU4Moldova: Local Communities program.

Photo: MAIA