In just one year, 31 young entrepreneurs created more than 120 jobs and introduced new goods and services in the market. They started their business with the financial support from the European Union provided under the Support to Confidence Building Measures Program. The results of the Youth Business Empowerment Project were presented at an event in Tiraspol, IPN reports.
Open-air training services, Dental Imaging Center for clients from Soldanesti, Floresti, Rezina and Ribnita, on the left bank of the Nistru River, quail farm or greenhouses for growing cherry tomatoes are just some of the ideas that youth transformed into businesses. The entrepreneurs received EU support in the amount of up to €13,500 and benefitted from business management training.
“With this initiative, we helped people from both banks of the Nistru River to pursue their goals. I strongly believe that the business bridges but also your friendship will contribute to the development of your communities,” Pirkka Tapiola, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, said at the closing event of the Youth Business Empowerment Project.
Stefan Liller, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, said 18 of the Program grants have been provided to women and there is a strong commitment to help more women on both banks put their potential to use.
Vitalii Kovali from Dubasari, on the left bank, was at the point of migrating to Russian Federation, when he found out he had obtained over €12,000 to start his own business, a dairy farm.
Several bee-keepers expanded their business or implemented innovative ideas, such as manufacturing multi-level beehives or honey collection directly to jars. Natalia Porhun from the village of Speia, Grigoriopol district, the left bank of the Nistru River, purchased equipment to collect honey from honeycombs, which is difficult to do manually.
Andrei Klimenko rented an old Soviet-type production hall where he installed lathes to make wire to attach vine, which is a profitable niche nobody had ever used before him.
The youth business empowerment project from the communities from both banks of the Nistru River was implemented in two stages (2013-2014 and 2015-2016). 71 young entrepreneurs started up their business and created more than 300 jobs.
The Support to Confidence Building Measures Program has a total budget of €10 million, provided by the European Union, and is implemented by the UNDP.
