Press releases

The Republic of Moldova takes the lead in the countries of the Danube region that will have a Support and mentoring programme for social enterprises. The new entrepreneurship support initiative was presented today to experts from Hungary, who are leading partners in the transnational European project Finance4SocialChangeof which it is a member, and ODIMM.

During the meeting, representatives from Hungary were familiar with the actions taken by the ODIMM to promote the concept of social entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova and the success histories of social enterprises.

“Social entrepreneurship is a relatively new sector for the business community in Moldova, but with unexplored potential. Current state support for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups focuses mainly on the provision of social and health care, and less on the development of sufficient life skills. ODIMM is committed to promoting social entrepreneurship and will provide all necessary support to launch and strengthen it”noted Iulia Costin, Director General of ODIMM.

The new support tool has been developed by ODIMM jointly with Ministry of Economy and development partnersaimed at supporting the development of more than 100 social enterprisesin particular rural and the creation of at least 300 new jobs. The initiative has a well-defined social purpose, a committed mission to generate beneficial impacts on people, the environment and the community. The aim of this programme is to create a more inclusive society by using business tools to tackle social problems.

And with the support of the European project Finance4SocialChange, ODIMM launch in October-December a National Campaign to Promote the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative advertising spots and the success stories of social business compasses will be disseminated. At the same time, webinars and information sessions will be organised to promote the concept of social entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova.

So far, 4 Moldovan companies have awarded the title of “insertion social enterprises” to the National Commission for Social Entrepreneurship. A further 46 companies are known to be regularly engaged in social activities.

According to statistical data, the social economy in Europe employs more than 14.5 million paid employees, which is equivalent to around 6.5 % of the working-age population, and about one in four businesses created has the status of a social enterprise.