The EU4Business is an umbrella initiative that encompasses all the European Union’s activities to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Partnership countries, including the Republic of Moldova. In 2022, through this initiative, the EU financed 30 various projects in Moldova with a total value of more than €132 million, benefiting 6,328 SMEs. Together, the projects created about 22,000 new jobs and led to a notable 30% increase in the total turnover of SMEs. In 2023, the number of EU-funded projects in Moldova increased to 37, with a total value of €156.6 million. The persons invited to IPN’s public debate “EU4Business Initiative, contributions to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Moldova” discussed the EU’s contribution to the development of SMEs in Moldova and the benefits enjoyed by entrepreneurs.
Mihai Bîlba, deputy chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova, said that CCI Moldova was part of a project initiated by the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) within the EU4Business initiative. The CCI was among the business support organizations in the EaP countries. “There were selected five key sectors that were eligible for all the Eastern Partnership countries and here we are talking about biofood, winemaking, creative industries, textiles. Companies from our country had the opportunity to interact with companies from the European Union. At the first stage, competitions were organized among business associations and 59 areas were selected, with 59 projects being implemented between an Eastern Partnership country and an EU country,” explained Mihai Bîlba.
According to him, a number of events were organized within the project, including fact-finding visits to the European Union, participation in various thematic exhibitions and, most importantly, bilateral meetings of economic agents, at which possible imports and exports of particular products were discussed. “Directly, on behalf of the European Union, we had about 180 business support associations as final beneficiaries, 148 of them from the Eastern Partnership. 438 small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU and around 500 enterprises in the EaP countries also participated in these events. Companies of the Republic of Moldova and the other EaP countries had the opportunity to take part in those bilateral meetings. About 30 events of this kind were organized. There were made over 30 fact-finding visits to the EU, and the business support associations from the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU signed 56 cooperation agreements,” said Mihai Bîlba.
Entrepreneur Dorina Baciu, owner of a cheese business in Sadaclia village of Basarabeasca district, said that, after having lived in Italy for many years, in 2015 she returned with her family to the Republic of Moldova. After two years, they founded the business and opened a workshop for the production of artisanal cheeses made from sheep and goat milk. At first, the whole business was built from the financial resources earned abroad, but it was not easy. “There were many challenges – ups and downs. But that’s how it is in a small business – success comes only through tireless work day after day. A small business requires time, patience, and dedication. It is a continuous process of patience, learning and adaptation,” related Dorina Baciu.
She noted that over the past year they benefited from a series of projects supported by foreign partners, which helped them develop and modernize their business. “I think that with all these European projects and I, from the experience accumulated in Europe, believe that we have very high potential and we can develop our country Moldova so that it is more prosperous. We can make a difference. We took over the cheese production technology from there. In recent years, my husband worked in this field. He visited many companies, namely those that produce artisanal cheeses, not factory ones. We wanted to bring home a new concept because there was only sheep and goat cheese in our country. We wanted to bring something else, and the homesickness and the desire to do something at home motivated us,” noted the entrepreneur.
Another entrepreneur, Maria Băcioi, owner of a flower shop in Doroțcaia village of Dubăsari district, said that the idea of starting this business came after she studied in Bucharest and returned home. As a student, she had a part-time job in a flower shop and fell in love with this job. Although she worked in another field for two years, she finally decided to open a flower shop in her village, given the fact that there was none in the neighboring localities either.
“And not a simple flower shop, but with flowers and coffee. I thought they fit very nicely. We knew that we didn’t have a terrace in the village where young people or families with children could have a rest. Thus, I wanted it to be a flower shop with a small terrace. We also have a lot of grass, shrubs. We want to make it as beautiful as possible. Now we are happy, but initially someone said that it was a big risk because it is a specific area. That’s how I felt and I set off with an open heart. Now things go well as we have beautiful people. It is a living village and not only Doroțcaia is like this, but also the whole area, the neighboring villages,” said the young entrepreneur.
The public debate entitled “EU4Business Initiative, contributions to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Moldova” was the eighth installment of the project “Benefits of the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the EU for people, community and country”. The project is supported by Soros Foundation Moldova.
