Facilitated access to EU market: European Investment Bank provides 150 million euros to modernize agri-food sector through Moldova's Orchard II programme

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide Moldova with 150 million euros under Moldova’s Orchard II programme, aimed at supporting investments across all stages of the agricultural value chain, from farms and orchards to processing facilities and distribution networks. The financing agreement, signed in Chisinau today, will contribute to the modernization of the agricultural sector and give Moldovan producers the opportunity to improve products’ quality, increase added value and access new markets in the European Union.

The financing is backed by a guarantee from the European Union and supports Moldova’s EU accession process by stimulating investment, creating jobs and facilitating Moldovan producers’ access to new opportunities on the European market. The funds will enable farmers and agri-food companies to invest in the modernization of production, processing, storage and logistics.

European Investment Bank Vice-President Karl Nehammer, responsible for the bank’s operations in Moldova, said that agriculture represented more than just an economic sector in the country.

“It is a source of income, identity and opportunity for communities across the country. Through Moldova’s Orchard II programme, we are supporting farmers and agri-food companies in investing in their future, becoming more competitive and creating added value locally. We want to support people who seek to develop their businesses, create jobs and bring Moldovan products to new markets,” Karl Nehammer said.

Ambassador of the European Union to Moldova Iwona Piórko said that the project aimed to create new opportunities and bring the Moldovan economy closer to the European Union.

“Through this investment, farmers, food producers and rural entrepreneurs will benefit from better access to the financing needed for modernization, development and increased competitiveness on the European market. It is a concrete example of how the Growth Plan is bringing benefits to businesses and communities throughout Moldova,” Iwona Piórko said.

Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu emphasized that farmers and agri-food producers of Moldova had the ambition and knowledge needed to compete on European markets; yet, they need access to long-term investment, in order to fully realize their potential.

“Moldova’s Orchard II programme will help companies modernize production, improve storage and processing capacities, as well as create more added value here, in Moldova. This is an investment not only in agriculture, but also in the development of rural communities, the creation of new jobs and the long-term competitiveness of our economy,” the official said.

The financing is aligned with the European Union’s 1.9 billion-euros Growth Plan for Moldova. The plan seeks to accelerate economic development through investment, reforms and the stimulation of private-sector development.

The new phase builds on the results of Moldova’s Orchard programme, one of the EIB’s flagship projects, which had supported more than 500 investment projects in the agricultural sector of Moldova by 2025. Moldova’s Orchard II continues the financing model already applied, using existing institutional structures and the experience gained during implementation to support companies across the country.