A young businesswoman from Criuleni district is convinced that the spirit of initiative and knowledge can help transform the traditional occupations into profitable businesses. “I want to show that beekeeping is not only an occupation, but also a business,” Victoria Braniste said in an interview. After graduating from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Victoria decided to start a business. Her father has looked after bees for many years so that the young woman thought how to modernize production, make the honey more competitive and transform this passion into a source of income. “The National Youth Empowerment Program was launched in that period (2008). I presented my business plan and won the right to take out a loan of 80,000 lei, 32,000 lei of which was offered as a grant. It wasn’t easy. I had nothing except the diploma. In order to obtain the loan I needed a security – 125% of the value of the loan. My parents supported me and allowed me to pledge their house. I bought equipment for making beehives. Things started to move. Afterward, I purchased 50 bee colonies together with hives,” Victoria related. Victoria Braniste said she manages to pay the installments on the loan according to the schedule agreed with the bank. “I have three employees, the most important of who is my father. When the hives must be changed, we hire two joiners,” she said. Victoria urges the young people to set up businesses in the settlements where they live, while the local authorities and banks to have confidence in them. The young woman said the consumption of honey in Moldova is low and there should be carried out campaigns to inform the people about the benefits of this product. She hopes that the export of honey to the EU will be resumed soon and the honey businesses will become even more lucrative.