Events

The Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Moldova (ODIMM) in collaboration with the EU project “Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the DCFTA”, as part of the continuous activities of the Sector Reform Contract (CRS) for the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), was the organiser of a thematic training panel. Access of SMUs to the market of the European Union’for entrepreneurs and researchers.

Participants were informed about support initiatives and opportunities currently available for Moldovan SMEs focused on facilitating them in European Union markets.

Support projects for SMEs as well as services offered by the SME Development Organisation were also presented at this panel, the online Europe Helpdesk and export opportunities for Moldova in the context of the DCFTA – presentations by Mr Vasile pleasantrepresentative of the EU Delegation to Moldova and Mr Philip Santensteam Leader of the EU Project “Technical assistance for the implementation of the DCFTA” .

Discussions focused in particular on export opportunities, the types of support needed by SMEs to access the EU market and the challenges they face. During the discussions, the requests for the necessary support to access the EU markets were presented. These included:rapid access to information, financial aid in the form of soft loans and grants, organisation of training and advice courses, on the application of European standards, amendments to laws, on export procedures, as well as the development of a complementary financing scheme, which would facilitate the identification of business partners, raw material/service providers, etc.

At the end of the information session, participants witnessed a simulation of an export procedure, where they had the opportunity to give questions, at the application procedure on line on the webpage: http://www.exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/index.htm .