250 representatives of small and medium businesses from Moldova will present their achievements at the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Forum to take place from May 5 through 7 at the Moldexpo Center in Chisinau. The forum will also host the SME international conference and the contest “The best entrepreneur from the SME sector,” Info-Prim Neo reports. The deputy minister for economy and commerce, Iurie Muntean, told a news conference on May 4 the exhibition would host products and services of the SME from sectors dealing with agriculture, food, constructions, light and processing industry, etc. For the first time, they will present state assistance programs, recruitment opportunities, banking, accounting and legal services and info technologies. For the first time, the exhibition is joined by residents of Moldovan free enterprise zones: “Otaci”, “Ungheni-Business” and “Expo-Business-Chisinau”. The Marculesti International Free Airport will propose air carrying services and industrial services meant to be exported. The ports from Ungheni and Giurgiulesti will propose passenger and goods carrying services on rivers and seas. According to the deputy minister, the Government partially covers the expenditures of the expo participants, allocating 280,000 lei, while the exhibiting companies paid by 180 lei per square meter of exhibition area. The number of the participants in the event has risen 2.5 times since 2001, when the event was launched, while the expo space has increased twice, said Moldexpo's manageress, Natalia Ciocan. Last year the show was visited by 3,800 people, half of which were specialists. The International Conference will have the title “Enhancing the SMEs' competitiveness – a vector of economic growth” and will get together representatives of the government, NGOs, business and and academic communities. Experts from Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, the Czech Rep., Russia, Ukraine and Japan will display international experience and methods to develop the SMEs. The contest “The best entrepreneur from the MSE sector” will have nine awards this year. Production, constructions, commerce, services, export, innovation, handcraftspeople, young entrepreneurs and active integration into society. According to an official of the Economy Ministry, Valentina Veverita, 102 applications have been submitted for the contest. The winners will be awarded prizes and diplomas: the first position winner will get 5,000 lei, the second position – 3,000 lei. A series of other events will be hosted by the forum meant to help the participants to establish new relationships, develop their businesses, said Iulia Iabanji, the general director of the Organization for the Development of the SME Sector. The Government earmarks half a million lei to hold this forum, which is also financially supported by a series of international projects and companies.