Moldova's governmental programme 373 reaches threshold of 3 billion lei invested in economy

Chisinau, 13 November /MOLDPRES/ - The governmental programme 373, launched in the summer of 2023, has reached the threshold of 3 billion lei invested in Moldova’s economy. Thus, through this programme, over 500 entrepreneurs from Moldova benefited from loans on easy terms. The overall value of the loans exceeds 2 billion lei.    

According to the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), the investments support the development of the companies where about 7,500 people are employed and the creation of 1,500 new jobs is estimated in the near future.    

„Three billion lei invested in the national economy through 373! This means one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A real success! There are over 500 entrepreneurs who benefited from loans on easy terms and in predictable conditions. About 1,500 new and well-paid jobs, which will contribute to the development of communities all over the country. We have been and will be with our entrepreneurs. And through the 373 Programme, we encourage investments in our companies and in the creation of new well-paid jobs here, at home,’’ Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba said.    

The geographic distribution of the investment projects covers all districts of Moldova. The biggest investments were registered in the Centru region and Chisinau municipality, with more than one billion lei for each region. In the North region, the investments reached 549 million lei and they amounted to 250 million lei in the South region, including the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. The average value of loans is 3.2 million lei.  

The 373 programme is demanded by companies from a wide range of activity sectors. The biggest investments were made in the sector of production and provision of energy, which attracted about 45 per cent of the overall value of the investment projects. The transport and depositing represented another important sector, with a share of 17 per cent, similar to the processing industry, which collected also 17 per cent. Important investments are made also in such sectors as health and social assistance, education, leisure, etc.    

The 373 programme was launched in July 2023 and in the last spring the government extended the access to financing and simplified the procedures. Presently, the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the trade sector, (except for those who sell alcoholic drinks and tobacco), as well as the ones from the field of maintenance and repair of vehicles and motorcycles, benefit from easier access to financing. The maximal sum of the loan was increased from 15 million lei to 40 million lei. The financing of the procurement of raw materials and materials needed for the production or providing of services is allowed too, within the limit of 30 per cent of the investment project’s value. Also, the maximal guaranteeing ceiling was increased from 40 per cent to 80 per cent from the loan’s value through the Loan Guarantee Fund and the banking procedures for providing loans were simplified.