The program to attract remittances to the national economy PARE 1+1, which during five years became one of the most popular and successful projects, will continue in 2016-2018. The announcement was made in a news conference given by the Organization for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Moldova on April 20, IPN reports.
Attending the event, Prime Minister Pavel Filip said this program is an important one not only because it encourages the development of the business sector, but also because it makes the Moldovans who went abroad to work to return home.
The Organization’s director Iulia Iabanji noted that PARE 1+1, since the end of 2009 when it was launched, enabled the Moldovan migrants and their relatives of the first degree to start over 700 new businesses, about 200 of which were launched by women. Within the program, the state provides 1 leu for every 1 leu invested by the participant in the program, but not more than 200,000 lei per business.
Iulia Iabanji said that grants to the value of 128 million lei were provided in 2010- 2015. Together with the money invested by the migrants or their relatives of the first degree, the investments in the national economy amounted to 340 million lei. Thus, 1 leu from remittances attracted 2.7 lei into the national economy. There were launched 10 types of entrepreneurial activities, such as growing of snails, chinchillas and ostriches, cultivation of berries and plants with a curative effect, activities to promote sports, etc.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said he is always glad to see that the money provided by the European Union brings concrete results for improving the Moldovan people’s welfare.
In 2011 – 2014, PARE 1+1 was supported financially by the European Commission through the budget support intended for stimulating the economy in rural areas. It is planned that the EU will continue to support the program until 2018 by the funds allocated for implementing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement that forms part of the Moldova – EU Association Agreement.
