The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), within the consultancy program for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), facilitated the cooperation of 100 Moldovan companies with local consultants with a view to increasing the energy efficiency and reducing the cost of energy resources. The partner – the Government of Sweden – allocated €759,000 for implementing this initiative, IPN reports.
Swedish Ambassador to Moldova Ingrid Tersman said that lower energy consumption for Moldova, which imports the energy resources, means diminution of the dependence on imports. On the other hand, if the energy bills are lower, the SMEs will be able to use the saved money to increase competitiveness of their products, which is a very important aspect in the context of the signing of the DCFTA with the EU.
Director of the EBRD Office in Moldova Julia Otto said that 88 of the 100 beneficiary companies reported lower energy costs after using constancy service during a year. In general, the companies increased turnover by over 25% and the new workplaces by 13%. They also attracted foreign investment of €6.9 million.
Ion Serbusca, senior specialist in the Small Business Support team of the EBRD, presented a number of successful projects implemented by the beneficiary companies. Thus, at the recommendation of the local consultant, the Chisinau company Cartnord, which produces paper sacks, computerized its production line. This enabled it to increase the volume of supplies on the market. Its annual savings amount to €61,000.
Of the 100 enterprises that benefit from consultancy services, half are from the agroindustrial sector, 10% are from the trade sector, while the rest are from construction, tourism, transport and other sectors. About 60% of them are from rural areas. Forty-four more companies will benefit from consultancy within the program by its completion, in 2015.
The EBRD is currently the largest institutional investor in Moldova. To date, the Bank has signed some 100 investments in the country, covering the energy, transport, agribusiness, general industry and banking sectors, for a cumulative amount of over €900 million.
