PARE 1+1 Programme pumps 340 million lei into Moldovan economy since launch

Chisinau, 20 April /MOLDPRES/-The  Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises Sector Development (ODIMM) in collaboration with the Economics Ministry organized a national conference entitled “PARE 1+1 Programme: results and new challenges”, in Chisinau today.

Attending the event was also Prime Minister Pavel Filip. He emphasized that PARE 1+1 “has been as successful programme” over the past six years since its launch, “and its extensive approach helped develop the Moldovan economy. The small and medium enterprise sector is a priority for the national economy and will further benefit from the government’s support”. In this context, Filip said an Advisory Board will be created at the Economics Ministry in the near time, in order to offer consultancy to SMEs.

For his part, the head of the EU Delegation to Chisinau, Pirkka Tapiola highlighted that the current event was very important. “Moldova is a developing country, thus SMEs are very important for the development of its economy. Therefore, authorities must create all the necessary conditions so that migrants could return home and start their businesses here. The EU will further back the enforcement of more projects and programmes aiming to develop SMEs and create new jobs,” Tapiola noted.

ODIMM director general, Iulia Iabanji said 340 million lei were invested in the Moldovan economy over the implementation of PARE 1+1. During the same period of time, 717 enterprises received funding, inclusively 207 enterprises created by women and 358 enterprises created by people below the age 35. The total amount of allotted funds accounted for 128 million lei.

Iabanji said the programme helped create and enlarge businesses in priority sectors of the national economy, such as: crop and grain farming, production of dairy, bakery and farinaceous products, production of textiles, clothing and leather goods, electricity production, furniture manufacturing, as well as health, education and tourism services.

An exhibition of goods and services provided by the beneficiaries of PARE 1+1 Programme, was simultaneously organized with the news conference. Attending it were also ODIMM development partners, who unveiled their support offers for the Moldovan environment business.

PARE 1+1 Programme on Attracting Remittances into the Economy was approved by government on 18 October 2010 and aims to attract the remittances of Moldovan migrant workers to develop businesses in Moldova. The programme is being implemented with the EU support.

(Reporter A. Mardare, Editor A. Raileanu)