Press releases

Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ODIMM) of the Republic of Moldova organised first information session about Social entrepreneurshipfrom the set of the ten planned. At today’s event, 15 November 2021first details on National Social Entrepreneurship Programmeit will also come with a financing component.

The event was opened by Iulia Costin, Director General ODIMMthey welcomed the openness of entrepreneurs to take on social activities and stressed their importance for the Moldovan economy and our society. It also presented the results of the webinar session and workshops during the previous weeks.

“In the Republic of Moldova Social entrepreneurship is at an early stage of development. The first concept was regulated in national legislation in 2017, Law No 845/1992 on entrepreneurship and undertakings. However, despite this, hundreds of companies in the Republic of Moldova have social activities although they are not registered as social enterprises.

Since 2018, the IMMO has been part of the transnational Finance4SocialChange project, where, alongside 14 countries, we have been working on developing this economic activity.

In the Republic of Moldova, social entrepreneurship can become an economic area that will generate impact in solving the problems of society in which we are active, including through the support of external partners and finance providers, including technical and financial assistance.

We are in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, which will soon promote the National Financing and mentoring Programme for Social Enterprises.”stated Iulia Costin, Director General ODIMM.

The National Programme for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova, which will include an action plan for the development of social entrepreneurship and a Funding and mentoring programme for Social Enterprisesis developed with GIZ support. It aims to catalyse and increase the level of interest in this type of entrepreneurship.

“Social entrepreneurship is important for society as a whole from two perspectives – it contributes to economic growth through business development and, at the same time, helps address social problems, including by integrating people from vulnerable groups into economic activities. In this way, we can say that social enterprises produce economic and social profits.

Social entrepreneurship is actively developing both in EU countries, where it makes a significant contribution to GDP formation and in the countries of the region, and is an increasingly attractive business model by combining the aspirations of the entrepreneur to excel in business with the desire to change communities to the good. Social enterprises are a very effective tool for combating poverty and reducing unfairness.

We support the efforts of state institutions but also other development partners in promoting social entrepreneurship and ensuring the growth of this important sector.”, stated Olesea Ghedrovici, Policy Manager, MEPA, GIZ project at the event.

It should be noted that the National Funding and mentoring Programme for social enterprises provides for the following steps:

1. Promotion

2. Training

3. Application to competitions

4. Funding

5. Sustainability.

In detail, about each step, spoke Finodora Marcu, Senior Specialist The Antreprenenoral Training Centre Directorate for Consultation and Entrepreneurship Training ODIMM.

During the information session presented their experience and the co-funder of the company EduJocthe most recent social enterprise in the Republic of Moldova; and Victor Nistorica, participant of webinar sessions and workshops carried out by the IMMO as part of the information and promotion campaign for social entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova.

The recording of the event can be tracked on this link: https://bit.ly/30rK5mT

Campaign initiated and supported by the Transnational Finance4SocialChange project, co-financed by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI). The aim of the project is to promote social impacts and stimulate the development of companies interested in resolving Community problems. ODIMM is a partner, together with 19 other institutions from 15 countries in the Danube region.