The Italian company LEONEVA opened its first fruit processing plant in the Republic of Moldova. Located in the town of Căinari, the Italian business has generated about 25 new jobs and will yet create more jobs. The company’s founder, Leone Piero Antonio, who has been in Moldova since 2020, already managed to process and export more than 3,500 tonnes of fruits, IPN reports.
The inaugural event began with a religious ceremony and blessing of the rooms. The founder and manager of LEONEVA, Leone Piero Antonio, thanked all the participants in this event, saying it is an important step. In the Republic of Moldova, he feels himself like in a second home. The businessman says that the starting and running of his business represent team work that helps the Republic of Moldova to be even more visible in the world.
Attending the event, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Moldova, Lorenzo Tomassoni, said that the Italian fruit processing factory represents a substantial step in this field. And it is worth noting that LEONEVA is working with an important partner, known as one of the largest fruit producers and exporters globally. “The quotas of dried fruits exported to the European Union market have increased, including due to the contribution of LEONEVA. This is also a support for the Republic of Moldova’s European path,” noted' the ambassador.
According to the official, the Italian investments in this business allowed to create at least 25 new jobs for this zone. Over the next two years, new employment opportunities are to be created. It goes to an investment of about €1.5-€2 million. “In Italy and the Republic of Moldova, and we resemble here, the small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are the basis of the economy. And our investments always represent a Moldovan-Italian partnership, which often refers not only to work. Many Italians got married in the Republic of Moldova and this is a literal Moldovan-Italian partnership. These partnerships, either at the level of individuals or at the level of enterprises, generate common advantages for the entire European family, of which the Moldovans and Italians are part,” said Lorenzo Tomassoni.
The inauguration was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba, Minister of Economy and Digitalization. “We are here to inaugurate a new Italian investment in the Republic of Moldova, in Căinari. We are very glad that Italian businessmen find opportunities here, in the Republic of Moldova. We are very happy with each such step, no matter how small it is, which integrates us more and more into the European market,” said Dumitru Alaiba.
“When an entrepreneur finds an opportunity in the Republic of Moldova and invests here, this fact surely gladdens us. It generates export capacity. It generates jobs. Welcome to Moldova,” said the official, noting that in 2023 Moldova delivered most of the plums to the European market.
