Ten young people from the Security Zone are assisted in starting and developing businesses within a program financed by the European Union and UNDP. The participants were selected at a contest of business plans and received grants of up to US$15,000. During ten months, they will also benefit from individual consultancy in purchasing equipment and raw material needed to develop their businesses, IPN reports.

The contest involved 50 young people from nine districts of Moldova, who presented together 71 business plans. The ten beneficiaries received the grant certificates in a festivity on March 28. Three of them started agribusinesses, five – production and trade businesses, while two – service provision businesses.

Danielle Keulen, deputy head of the Cooperation Division of the EU Delegation to Moldova, said the project aims to build confidence between the people from both banks of the Nistru River so that they together improve their living standards.

The ten beneficiaries will be able to take part in six seminars to improve their managerial abilities. Two conferences will be held in May and in October, which will involve representatives from both banks of the Nistru.

Grant recipient Alina Morozan said this money enabled her to remain in the country and to continue her parents’ business. With it, she will purchase the equipment needed to gather corn and sunflower seeds. Beneficiary Victor Caslari said he will develop his fruit drying business by implementing new methods.

The Support to Confidence Building Measures Program, implemented by AXA Management Consulting, has a budget of €10.6 million. The EU’s contribution is €9.5 million, while UNDP’s - €1.1 million.