Press releases

Chisinau, 24 November 2023 The programme to support female entrepreneurship, funded by the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, a vital initiative for the economic and digital development of businesses managed by Moldovan entrepreneurship was presented at the Antreprenor Expo exhibition in Moldexpo. This programme, approved by the Government in October, marks a strong commitment to supporting women in business.

The event was honoured by the presence of Dumitru Pinian, Director of the Organisation for the Development of Entrepreneurship, Ana Gorea, Vice-President of the Association of Women in Business in Moldova, Member of the Economic Council at Prime Minister, Oxana Otgon, Head of Programme Implementation Unit ODA and successful antreprenoaries Rodica CELAC and Pelaghia Țîpu.

Given the experience of other grant programmes for women, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme is expected to have a significant impact on the economy, promoting their rapid growth. The programme is dedicated to both women who are just envisaging to start a business and those who already have a business and will develop it, and consist of providing grants, training, mentoring and promoting the image of women entrepreneurs. The priority areas for eligibility are the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Matmatics) industries, education services (growns, nurseries, educational centres), care and cleaning services, food service activities, as well as business advisory and support services.

‘The programme aims to enable women economically. All studies demonstrate that any country’s GDP could increase if women were more involved in business’, said Dumitru Pinian, Director of the Organisation for the Development of Entrepreneurship.

ODA will provide start-up companies, which will apply to the Programme, a non-repayable financial aid amounting to a maximum of 80 % of the amount of the investment project net of VAT, but this amount will not exceed the amount of RON 200000. In addition to this grant awarded for the procurement of goods and equipment, beneficiaries will be able to access a non-repayable financial support of up to lei 30000 – the e-commerce package – which will be used for the development of the e-commerce of the company to start their activity.

Companies under development, with activity of at least 2 years, earn income, employ and wish to expand, the State through ODA provides them with a grant of up to 70 % of the amount of the investment project without VAT costs, but this amount will not exceed lei 600000. These companies too can access the e-commerce package, while in their case the amount offered is lei 50 thousand. The e-trade package is not mandatory.

In the Programme, women can also apply as a natural person and do not have a legal entity but must have a well-designed business plan with clear ideas and opportunities. They are expected to register the company for one month after the approval of the investment plan, after which the financing contract will be signed and the grant has been signed.

‘Why do women not risk starting a business? Among the main reasons are the financial one and the lack of entrepreneurial education. We hope that they will be as many beneficiaries as possible from this programme, because the support of organisations such as ODA depends in many cases. We need to create more courage to create successful business at home’, mentioned Ana Gorea, Vice-President of the Association of Women in Business in Moldova.

For its part, Rodica CELAC, the foundation and management of SRL ‘Promidan Prim’, stated that ODA had made a large contribution to the success of its business. “We are producing live in their own for the biggest bakery and patilings in RM and Europe. We started a few years ago in the chamber and today we have a new, built and adapted hall according to all European requirements for processing live and food safety rules. I very much want women in MR to benefit from these opportunities because they are an opportunity to create something frumm’, said Rodica CELAC.

At the same time, the Pelaghia Topula Battle, the founding and management of SRL “Pelaghea Line”, which administers a textile plant in the municipality of Orhei raion, stated that ODA was the basis for the development of this business and encouraged through non-repayable funding programmes.

The Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme has a budget of lei 30 million and an implementation period of 36 months. It is a major step in the right direction to support female entrepreneurship and gender equality, a model to follow in the region and across the European Union.