Moldova's industry of medicinal plants to be backed through cross-border project

Chisinau, 12 October /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova, along with Greece, Armenia and Georgia, is set to modernize the companies associated with the cultivation and promotion of medicinal and aromatic herbs, in order to contribute to enhancing the cross-border commercial opportunities of enterprises from the Black Sea basin countries.   
Those four countries are partners within the European project, HEGO – Herbs for Growth, implemented within the Joint Operational Programme in the Black Sea Basin 2014-2020. The Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises Sector Development (ODIMM), as partner of the project’s implementation in Moldova, today organized the first national event for disseminating this cross-border initiative; representatives of public authorities, research institutions, university centres and for training entrepreneurs, other partners of the project participated in the action.     
According to ODIMM Director General Iulia Costin, Moldova has a string of advantages for developing this industry. ‘’The native products, got from herbaceous plants and products from plants with high value added, are appreciated both on the local market and abroad and are used in the following industries: food, cosmetic and of taking care of home, decoration, design and pharmaceutical industry. Through this project, we intend to strengthen this field of work, in order to turn to good account the unexplored potential. At the same time, we come up with dedicated and sustainable initiatives, including the creation of a cross-border specialized cluster,’’ Costin noted.     
 
 The project’s manager, representative of the Development Association of Halkidiki (Greece) Tassos Livadios stressed that, at present, in the world, the traditional and innovative use of plants with commercial value added represented an increasing demand and showed new business opportunities in the sector.   
“According to recent statistics on the international trade (UNO, UNCOMTRADE), the global demand of export and the prices for the products made out of plants with commercial value added will continuously increase till 2025 and the products from plants with an improved quality and an enhanced nutraceutical value will become more attractive for consumers. We would like, through the HEGO project, to manage to reunite both important actors from the value chain of the sector of products based on herbaceous plants and producers, university staff, local authorities, in order to contribute to enhancing the cross-border commercial opportunities of enterprises from the Black Sea basin countries,’’ Tassos Livadios  said.
Moldova, due to the friendly weather and environment conditions, rich flora, represents an important areal for the field of ethereal crops. According to data from the national report on biological diversity, the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic herbs occupied an area of 3.5 thousand hectares in Moldova in 2019. Presently, over 50 farmers producing aromatic and medicinal herbs, including lavender and garden sage, are registered in Moldova; they are used on the local market, as well as are exported by enterprises from abroad.       
Photo: libertatea.ro