Events

On 16 December 2013, The Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODIMM) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy launched the Network of Business Incubators of the Republic of Moldova (RIAM).

At the ODIMM headquarters event, Ms Iulia Iabanji, Director-General of ODIMM and the heads of Business Incubators in Soroca, Ștefan Vodă, Leova, Rezina, Sângerei and Dubăsari signed the Association Agreement for Business Incubators in RIAM.

The event was attended by Dumitru Godoroja, Deputy Minister of Economy. They were also representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, Ms Speranta Olaru, International Cooperation Officer and Mr Philip Santens, Manager of the EU Technical Assistance Project for Sectoral Budget Support “Economic Stimulation in Rural Areas” (ESRA), as well as Ms Lucia Ușurelu, Deputy Director of the Entranse 2 Your Business project, were present.

Moldova Business Incubators Network (RIAM); created with the financial and technical support of the European Union, it is a platform for cooperation established through a voluntary understanding of its members to promote the role of Business Incubators in economic development and their recognition at national and international level.

Dumitru Godoroja, Deputy Minister of Economy, mentioned that Business Incubators are the pillars of the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Republic of Moldova. “They are regional development platforms and a first source of information for entrepreneurs in the country’s regions on business support projects.”

“RIAM is primarily a platform for communication and collaboration between business incubators that will allow for the exchange of experiences and ideas between them,” said Speranta Olaru, International Cooperation Officer, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

Through its work, RIAM will contribute to promoting the principles of business incubation among the population and in particular novice entrepreneurs, expanding the development capacities of Business Incubators and their residents.

“Through the joint implementation of the Development Programmes, RIAM is a means to attract new funds. According to international experience, business incubators do not have sufficient resources to develop their capacities. It is no secret that donor organisations prefer to work primarily with networks rather than with individual beneficiaries ", stressed Philip SANTENS, manager of the EU Technical Assistance Project for Sectoral Budget Support" Economic Boosting in Rural Areas "(ESRA).

“RIAM members will benefit throughout 2014, through the ENTRASE Programme, from a series of seminars and study visits to Norway, which will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices between business incubators in the two countries,” said Lucia Ușurelu, Deputy Director of the Entranse 2 Your Business project.

RIAM is an open network for all Moldovan Business Incubators, consultancy companies, donors and financing institutions, national and international business support organisations, as well as individuals with extensive entrepreneurial experience.

The network’s official website was launched at the event: www.riam.odimm.mdwhere you can find information about the network, partners and the latest news in the field.

The creation of the Business Information Network in the districts of the Republic is one of the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Moldova in setting up business support infrastructure suited to the needs of the business community, particularly in rural areas.

The business incubators at Ștefan Vodă, Leova, Rezina, Sângerei and Dubăsari were created by ODIMM, with the support of the ESRA project, under the Policy Matrix for the Sectoral Support Programme ‘Economic Boosting in Rural Areas’, funded by the European Union. The Soroca Business Incubator was created in 2009 with the support of the Norwegian Government.

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ODIMM develops and implements programmes and projects aimed at supporting the ideas of all entrepreneurs wishing to develop their own business.ODIMM is a public, non-profit institution created by the Government of the Republic of Moldova by Decision No 538 of 17.5.2007 and works in coordination with the Ministry of Economy.