Press releases

ODIMM the implementation of support mechanisms on the digital transformation of the HLEU continues, which will minimise the effects of the current pandemic crisis and become the main lifeline in future crisis situations. Today, the External Oversight Committee of the Support instrument on digitalisation of the HLEI made the totals of —third Investment Project Competition submitted by Moldovan companies to improve or transform the business process using digital technologies.

Thus, 18 business will benefit from Grant in the amount of up to RON 200 thousand each for a total amount of around RON 3.3 million. The money will be allocated from European Union funds (RON 2.8 million) and the state budget (RON 513 thousand). The implementation of investment projects will generate investments in the economy of around RON 7.2 million and create 137 jobs. So far, through this support tool, 293 domestic companies were financially supported by Grants and Business Vouchere.

Andrei Cușcă, President of the Committee, Head of Directorate for Information Technology and Digital Economy Policy of the Ministry of Economyhighlighted the importance of the digital transformation of business for ensuring resilience to the pandemic crisis. “We appreciate the continued interest of entrepreneurs in modernising production processes, innovation capacity and marketing strategies. We are convinced that the use of information and digital technologies will significantly increase the competitiveness of companies in both the internal and external market”.

In this context, Iulia Costin, Director-General ODIMM stressed that “by supporting the digitalisation of the SMI, the MSMEs aimed to stimulate the use of new digital technologies throughout the business management process, to train entrepreneurs in the use of information technologies, including the deployment of e-commerce platforms, and to provide unrestricted access to free entrepreneurship education in the digital environment”.

Of the total of the 18 companies approved for funding, ca. 17 % fall within the scope of the provision of services, 33 % manufacturing, 39 % agriculture, 6 % practice activities in the field of information and communication technologies, 5 % construction. At the same time, one third (33 %) of the total number of companies are located in the northern region of the country; 39 % — in the Centre, and 28 % in the South region and UTA Gagauzia.

We recall that the launch of the Support instrument on digitalisation of the HLEI it took place in June 2020. For 1.6 years, through this backstop, more than 800 entrepreneurs have assessed their level of business digitalisation and over 600 attended the training sessions, of which 293 companies were financially supported by Grants and Business Vouchere.

In the future, in order to ensure continued access to the financial and educational resources needed for the deployment of digital technologies, the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with ODIMM developed the Digital Transformation Programme of the HMM, to be approved by the Government by the end of 2021.

The Digitalisation Support Tool is financed from the state budget, complemented by European Union funds and GIZ Moldova with the financial support of the German Government, implemented by ODIMM in partnership with the GoOnline of the COR Association, the Startup Moldova Programme developed by the TEKWILL project, with the support of USAID, Sweden and UK aid.