Authorities encourage persons working abroad to invest in businesses in Moldova

The Ministry of Economy and Trade says it will soon launch a project to support the businesses set up by persons that worked abroad and want to return home, Info-Prim Neo reports. The project will improve access to knowledge about how to start and run a business and to financial resources, said Valentina Veverita, the head of the Economy Ministry’s Small and Medium-Sized Business Development Division. “These people gained experience and earned money that they want to invest in business. We plan that for every leu invested by them the state will provide equivalent support,” Veverita said. Speaking about a similar youth economic empowerment program launched last year, Veverita said that 1,500 beneficiaries will receive training as part of the program until 2010. About 1,000 young persons will raise loans under advantageous conditions. Iulia Iabanji, director of the Organization for the Development of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Sector, said that the organization has already trained approximately 400 young persons on eight modules: formulation of business plans, marketing knowledge, labor legislation, management of human resources and others. More than 200 young persons obtained loans, while over 1,000 persons are going to get them. The loans are of up to 300,000 lei, including a 40% grant for 5 years, with a preferential rate of interest. The beneficiaries are young persons aged between 18 and 30 from rural areas.