Press releases

Around 500 entrepreneurs, representatives of central and local public authorities as well as business support institutions, participated today, 28 November 2019, in the International SME Conference with the Generic “MOLDOVA VERDE”, conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova in partnership with the Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODSME).

The 12th edition of the Conference aimed to align the business environment with the principles of a Green Economy – by adopting a responsible model of sustainable development with the sustainable use of resources reserved for future generations.

Opening the conference, Yulia COSTIN, Director-General ODIMM, said that today’s event was a unique and excellent platform to facilitate dialogue between representatives of central public authorities and business to provoke discussions on the process of greening SMEs, and in particular key actions to align the business community with new trends in the global economy.

“Today it is imperative that the business environment in the Republic of Moldova adopts a new method of developing entrepreneurship, namely to move towards actions greening, adoption of standards, use of green technologies and innovations. The transition to a green economy directly influences both the competitiveness of individual businesses and the competitiveness of the country’s economy as a whole. The transition to a green, low-carbon and resource-efficient economic model is not only desirable, but also essential for maintaining and enhancing competitiveness and prosperity, protecting the environment and thus people’s health and well-being. ODSMEs through its programmes encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises in automation of production processes, planning and implementing environmentally friendly practices. I am confident that in the near future the domestic business environment will be able to offer high value-added products on foreign markets at competitive prices and of excellent quality’stressed the Director General of ODIMM.

Anatol USATÎI, Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, stressed that the Government was committed to stimulating interest in green energy production and consumption by harnessing renewable energy sources.

“We all want entrepreneurial activity to develop in line with sustainable development objectives, in particular those relating to the environment, so that economic activity evolves in harmony with the environment and economic growth is green and decoupled from the erosion of natural resources. With the Greening of SMEs Programme, which was voted yesterday by the Government, we will support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in implementing environmentally friendly practices”stated Anatol Usatyi, Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure.

Gintautas Baranauskas, the Vice-President of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova reiterated his support for the European Community bloc in developing the small and medium-sized enterprise sector to cope with new trends by adopting a responsible model of sustainable development.

“The EU has provided substantial technical assistance to address climate change issues in its neighbourhood. Over the past five years, the business environment in Moldova has benefited from the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement by exporting their products to the European marketEIpriority being given to organic products. Our aim is to continue providing them with support through more projects’.

Anna AKHALKATSI, Director of the World Bank Office for Moldova, Europe and Central Asia assurednotes that their institution will provide business support to increase innovation and technology transfer. ‘The event creates an open platform to facilitate dialogue between government representatives and business on new practices and key actions to be taken to implement this idea of greening Moldova, which will promote the green economy, encourage innovations, create new opportunities and empower the SME sector, ensuring their sustainability.’.

Dorin AndrosState Secretary for Regional and Rural Development of the The Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and the Environment mentioned that the principles of the green economy are also reflected in the mechanisms for awarding subsidies to entrepreneurs aimed at complying with national standards on environmental protection.

‘The deployment of the green economy is of increased interest to us, including by promoting the following areas of intervention: protection, reduction of pollution and rational use of water resources, soil conservation, promotion of organic farming and waste management’.

Conference discussionsEI MOLDOVA VERDE they have been structured in two sections. The rapporteurs of the circular economy section outlined the legal framework for promoting the green economy in the Republic of Moldova, the contribution of the private sector to accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable economic development.

The second panel “Greening SMEs” presented the new National Programme for Greening SMEs it aims to encourage and support entrepreneurs in planning and implementing environmentally friendly practices.

Throughout the day, the rapporteurs presented information on the economic and competitive development of the Republic of Moldova, examples from international experience in the greening process sharedentrepreneurial skills.

Invitations to the conference, through their speeches, scored the possibilities for strengthening the dialogue between business, central and local public authorities, development partners. Entrepreneurs were also able to interact, in open space format, with representatives of support institutions.

During the event, an exhibition with organic products from the textile, agri-food and non-food industries was held in the foyer of the Palace of the Republic.

The conference ended with the award ceremony of the winners of the national competitions “Best entrepreneur in the SME sector” and “SME – Model for Social Responsibility”.

The International SME Conference is organised annually by the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure in partnership with the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Sector Development Organisation.

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