15 clothing and footwear enterprises, with the support of the USAID Competitiveness Enhancement and Enterprise Development (CEED II) Project, have launched a campaign to promote Moldovan brands, reports Info-Prim Neo. Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar stated that the light industry has a special role in Moldova’s economy, the sector ranking second in Moldovan exports. “We are glad that the enterprises, which have been doing outsourcing jobs for several years now, managed to keep their staff, accumulated experience from foreign clients, and can now launch their own brands. The companies participating at the campaign have launched 17 own brands on the local market. I hope that their model will stimulate other enterprises”, said the Minister. USA Ambassador to Moldova William H. Moser mentioned that the American people is happy to aid Moldova in promoting its own brands. According to the diplomat, the development of local production is a way towards increasing the population’s incomes, and creating new jobs. “I am certain that a good product, which is praised on the local market, will indubitably be praised on the foreign market as well”, highlighted William H. Moser. Tudor Iacovlenco, head of the Light Industry Employers’ Association, mentioned that this campaign is the common brainchild of the enterprises and the CEED II project. “We want to collaborate; we will even open a store that will sell Moldovan brands. We want to produce and offer customers our own products at higher quality”, said Tudor Iacovlenco. A fashion show will take place on September 15, as part of the campaign, in which 190 works of Moldovan designers will be exhibited.