The Implementation Unit of the Competitiveness Enhancement Project (CEP) has approved financing for three applicants. A company will grow strawberries and another one organic grains, both planning to export to the EU. A third one wants to increase its wine export capacity, IPN reports.
According to a press release of CEP, Criuleni-based Impex Business Group, specialized in the cultivation of strawberries with the use of hydroponics, wants to improve its production processes and the quality of its goods in order to compete on the EU market. The company plans on selling its strawberries to European supermarket chains and applied for a CEP Grant in order to hire foreign advertising and marketing experts, as well a hydroponics consultant.
Purcari Winery will also get financial support from CEP Grants. The company is currently exporting its wines to 25 countries and wants to improve its competitiveness abroad. It will use the grant to study the target markets and for agricultural, technological and oenological consultancy services.
Prograin Organic’s grant application was also successful. The company is focused on developing organic agriculture in Moldova by establishing the whole production chain, from training the farmers to selling the organic products. Currently, it is working with 65 small farms, assisting them during the whole production process. It provides them with seeds and hybrids for planting sunflower, corn, chickpeas, soy and also with phyto-sanitary products to be used during cultivation so that the crops will meet the organic product criteria. It also offers consultative assistance. The company was previously exporting to Russia, but after the trade embargo imposed by Moscow, it reoriented towards the EU market, where quality standards are higher.
CEP Grants has a budget of $3 million. Moldovan small and medium businesses can receive grants for boosting the competitiveness of their products and for accessing new export markets. So far, 29 applications have been approved and 8 others are being examined.
