The International Migrants Day was celebrated in Chisinau under the theme “Act Today”.  An award ceremony was held as part of the event organized by the International Organization for Migration to Moldova (IOM Moldova), which highlighted the contribution of the Moldovan diaspora to supporting Moldova’s socioeconomic development, IPN reports.

The first prize was awarded to the mayor’s office of Cărbuna village of Ialoveni district, for investments in community green energy projects (International Migrants Day Award 2023 for the DAR 1+3 Program). The second award was offered to Dorin Racu, a former migrant worker, who returned to Moldova where he started a business in the field of cold-pressed oil production, which has now become one of the highest rated productions on the market (International Migrants Day Award 2023 for the Pare 1+2 Remittance Attraction Program).

On the stage, the two awards were described and handed over by Secretary General of the State Chancellery Ana Calinici.

Two videos on the work of the IOM in the Republic of Moldova and on the joint collaboration with the General Inspectorate for Migration anticipated the opening remarks of Lars Johan Lönnback, IOM Moldova’s Chief of Mission, Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, and Jana Costachi, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, Moldova courageously received one million refugees, most of them in transit, while around 100 thousand stayed, often going back and forth between Ukraine and Moldova. The unwavering solidarity of the Moldovan people and its government are an example for the world. IOM is proud to have played a part in supporting the government on these challenges and opportunities, as it relates to diaspora engagement, countering trafficking in persons, migration management and legislation in general, as well as support on forced displacement regarding shelter, cash support, protection, job creation and integration,” said Lars Johan Lönnback..

Artist Cynthia from Madagascar performed on the stage by singing a Malagasy folk song and storytelling about her integration experience in Moldova, in fluent Romanian.

More than 200 IOM’s friends and supporters, heads of diplomatic delegations of the USA, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Poland, representatives of EU Delegations, EUBAM, and the Embassies of Italy and Japan, central and local authorities, civil society organizations, IOM Moldova’s implementing partners, and especially migrants.