The European Union will offer Moldova support for the development of small and medium enterprises in rural areas (SMEs), within the new "Support policies for small and medium enterprises in rural areas" program, launched today, September 21. According to a Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure press release, the project will last 29 months and will improve the access of SMEs in rural areas to tools and services for business development.
The Secretary General of the Ministry, Lilia Palii, said that the usefulness of the project opportunities are better highlighted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the rural sector is one of the most affected. "Support policies for the SME sector will limit the pandemic's impact and will strengthen SME resilience", said Lilia Palii at the launch event.
Gintautas Baranauskas, EU Delegation representative to Moldova, said that this project represents EU's contribution to the formulation and implementation of a consistent support policy to SMEs in Moldova, focusing on rural areas that are most vulnerable to existing and potential threats.
The general director of the Organization for the Development of the Small and Medium Enterprises Sector (ODIMM ), Iulia Costin, said that ODIMM views the project as a launching pad for new economic development solutions. "With the support of the European Union, we are eager to provide assistance to local SMEs for rehabilitation following the COVID-19 crisis and to combat economic damage and create new growth and prosperity opportunities", said Iulia Costin.
In Moldova, 99% of all enterprises are small and medium-sized, 80% of which are classified as micro-enterprises having fewer than ten employees.
