The European Union will continue to support the Republic of Moldova with the implementation of the DCFTA agreement that opens the European market to Moldovan businesses, the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, Ambassador Peter Michalko told an international conference on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) taking place as part of Moldova Business Week in Chisinau from 3-6 October.
The EU Ambassador said Moldova needed to implement reforms in the economy, so that the level of development could grow, adding the EU was supporting Moldovan SMEs through the various programmes of the EU4Business initiative.
Octavian Calmâc, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Infrastructure told the conference that the government was working to create the most favourable regulatory framework for entrepreneurs.
He pointed out that SMEs in Moldova accounted for:
- 98% of the total number of enterprises,
- 60% total workforce,
- 30% of GDP.
In an earlier speech on the opening day of the business week, Ambassador Michalko said the EU was a key partner for Moldova in the development of commerce, pointing out that the EU accounted for 63% of total exports from Moldova, and that increased trade would generate new jobs, reducing unemployment, and contributing to economic growth.
Moldova Business Week is an annual event organised by the government of the Republic of Moldova together with the Moldova Investment and Export Promotion Organisation (MIEPO), dedicated to the business environment, attracting investments and promoting exports.
EU4Business programmes complement the efforts of the Moldovan government by improving access to finance, helping SMEs move into foreign markets and providing training to build up business skills. Specific technical help is available to Moldovan SMEs to make sure they can make the most of the country’s free trade agreement with the EU.