Business Services and Consultation Program wants to intensify its regional presence

Since 2005, when Moldova launched its BAS Program (Business Services and Consultation), financed by the EBRD ($0.9 million), 138 projects of the small and medium companies sector (SMBs) have been supported, 110 of which were finished, Info-Prim Neo reports. The program has the goal to increase the competitiveness of the SMBs, by co-financing the local consultation services, as to develop the consultation services market. Stela Melnic, the director of the program, says that the most demanded consultation services were those dealing with the implementation of the management computerized systems (45%), the market and planning studies (23.2%) and studies of engineering for extending the production facilities, building new utilities (19.6%). The relation between the regional projects and those proposed by the Chisinau companies is 53.6% to 46.4%. BAS wants to intensify its regional presence during the next two years. Special attention will be paid to the development of the non-agricultural businesses in rural sectors and the adjacent affairs of agriculture with a high markup. According to the deputy minister of agriculture, Iurie Muntean, at present there are 11 projects supporting SMBs, implemented with the help of international donors. Their total budget is over $80 million. Among them, the World Bank‘s project “Investments and rural services,” has a budget of $15million. There is also the Program of supporting and developing the SMBs, financed by Japan ($2.52million), which facilitates buying high-performance equipment for the rural communities. The other 3 important projects are those supported by the USAID: “Growing the competitiveness and the development of companies,” with a budget of $44.5 million. The first one started in 2005, and the last, the third, will be continued till 2010. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has financed two projects within the Program of developing the rural businesses ($2.83 million). Projects of technical assistance have become popular among the entrepreneurs of this business sector, the deputy minister said. Muntean said they are meant for transmitting experience to the developed countries in launching and supporting the small businesses. He also mentioned the projects of the European Committee regarding the development of small and medium businesses in territories ($14.3 million), the German project “Promoting the start-ups (new companies) in Hancesti district and the Dutch project of assistance in starting joint companies.