Press releases

The most important event dedicated to Moldova’s SME sector today, 11 December, brought together participants from the Eastern Partnership (EP) countries to discuss common challenges and solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual event, initiated by the Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODIMM) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MEI), aimed at exchanging best practices among the Eastern Partnership countries. Possible solutions for deeper economic integration and effective collaboration in the region have also been designed.

“Moldova has been living a unique experience with its eastern neighbours for a day”stressed in his speech, Iulia COSTIN, Director General of ODIMM.

Official statement reconfirms the timeliness of the conference with the General “Eastern Partnership countries: Common challenges. Common Solutions”it addressed the problems faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. New economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and enhanced regional business cooperation were also explored.

“Association in the Eastern Partnership is a symbol of trust, openness and cooperation between the European Union and the six Eastern European partner states. With a partner like the European Union and with sustained efforts from the authorities of the 6 neighbouring states, I am confident that we will overcome this crisis and increase opportunities to sustain a resilient and competitive economy”he said Julia COSTIN.

Anatol USATÎI, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova it highlighted the measures taken by the state authorities to support the private environment.

“Through the totality of the measures carried out during the pandemic, MEI aimed to increase the resilience of Moldova’s business environment and capacities to adapt rapidly to external changes. Reskilling the workforce, educating new skills, technology and digitalisation, smart regional development, harnessing the entrepreneurial potential of emigrants, creating the conditions for doing business at home are just some of our current priorities. Together with entrepreneurs and other key players, we will continue our efforts to rehabilitate the economy and align with the standards and principles of the European economy”.

Mathieu Bousquet, Head of Unit C1, DG NEAR, European Commissionreiterated the European Union’s continued support for the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood.

“The discussion highlighted the important role of the EU in supporting the HME sector in the region, as well as the support measures provided in response to the COVID pandemic. Building on the 2020 review as well as today’s discussions, we can reiterate the importance of developing trade relations, encouraging access to financial resources and developing digital infrastructure. This requires a business environment where the rule of law is respected. In this vein, the European Union stands ready to step up its assistance for further reforms in Moldova”.

Daniel QUADBECK, Head of Unit for Eastern Europe and Southern Caucasus, OECD pointed out that studies show that governments in Eastern countries spent 2 % of their GDP supporting national economies during the crisis.

“The OECD study shows that around 40 per cent of companies in the EP countries have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In the future, we need to think about structural policies to prepare private entrepreneurs to change their management methods and integrate into value chains”.

Bruno Pozzi, Director, Regional Office for Europe, UNEP, EU4Environment urged Eastern European partners to support sustainable development.

“UNEP will support EP countries in developing innovation, attracting new technologies, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the green economy”.

The event was attended by government representatives, national and international development partners, business associations and economic operators.

Guests of honour for the conference were representatives of business support associations from the 6 Eastern Partnership countriesthrough their presentations, they highlighted the experience and best practice models implemented in the Eastern States: Liliana BUSUIOC, Executive Director of the Alliance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (R.Moldova), Lilit APUJANYAN, Coordinator of the Internationalisation and International Cooperation Programme, Investment Support Center/EEN (Armenia), Ruben Osipyan, President, SME Cooperation Association (Armenia), Orkhan Mammadov, President, Small and Medium-Sized Business Development Agency (Azerbaijan), Farhad GARASHOV, President, pomegranate Producers and Exporters Association (Azerbaijan), Emin DOSTIYARI, President, Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industrialists Association, Avtandil KASRADZE, President, Georgian’s Innovation and Technology Agency, Aleksandre PAPIASHVILI, Director of the International Relations and Project Management Department, Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zhanna Kazimirovna Tarasevich, Director, Business Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers Belarus, Andriy SLABINSKIY, Director, SME Development Office (Ukraine), Elena AYRAULT, Manager, Unlimit Ukraine Project, European Business Association.

For 13 years, 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 (www.odimm.md), has been holding the most important event dedicated to the SME sector in the Republic of Moldova – the Annual SME Conference. This event is organised with the support of the European Union through the European Union Technical Assistance Project “Supporting the implementation of policies for rural small and medium-sized enterprises”.

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