Press releases
Information DEAD – COSME – Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs
Today, 5 December, the Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODIMM) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, with the support of the EU Sector Budget Support Project “Economic Stimulation in Rural Areas”, organised an information day dedicated to the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME).
The event was attended by Ms Lilia PALII, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy; Ms Speranta OLARU, Project Manager, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova; Mr Philip SANTENS, Team leader, EU Technical Assistance Project for Sectoral Budget Support “Economic Boosting in Rural Areas”; Stephen BATSTONE, Expert COSME Programme. Representatives of central and local public administration, SME support institutions, donors, international organisations and the media were also invited.
On 29 September, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova signed the Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Moldova in the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises 2014-2020 (COSME). Moldova is thus the first Eastern Partnership country to join COSME. ’Today’s event focuses on the implementation of the COSME programme and the available EU financial instruments. We aim to launch an information campaign for all potential partners to seize these opportunities”Mentioned Ms Iulia IABANJI, Director-General ODIMM, at the opening of the event.
Ms Lilia PALII mentioned that “the signature of the Association and Free Trade Agreement RM-EU is a
true 2014 event, where Moldova demonstrated that it chose a European path. The European Union programme – COSME offers great opportunities for the development of the Moldovan small and medium-sized enterprise sector.”
Mr Philip SANTENS, noted that although there are many European Union programmes, the COSME programme is one of the few programmes that offers a unique opportunity to promote the competitiveness of enterprises by providing access to finance, entrepreneurial training and other facilities for starting up and developing businesses. “This programme also includes a financing scheme that will allow companies to benefit from preferential lending rates.”
At the event, Stephen BATSTONE, Expert COSME introduced the Strategic Plan 2020 and the Action Plan 2015-2017 on the implementation of the COSME programme in the Republic of Moldova and on the implementation of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN eng.).
The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme shall be EUR 2.5 billion, of which EUR 1.4 billion shall be allocated to financial instruments. The remainder will be allocated to the financing of the Enterprise Europe Network, international industrial cooperation and education to develop entrepreneurship.
ODIMM has taken on the role of promoter of the COSME Programme in the Republic of Moldova and will provide the general public with detailed information about the Programme and opportunities to participate in announced calls for projects.
ODIMM develops and implements programmes and projects aimed at supporting viable ideas from entrepreneurs who want to develop their own business. ODIMM is a public, non-profit institution created by the Government of the Republic of Moldova through Decision No. 538 of 17.5.2007.
For more details:
Marcela Para, Press Officer, e-mail:
Go to Here the Expert Presentation Stephen BATSTONE
See also http://mbc.md/rom/news/economy/antreprenorii-beneficiază-de-un-nou-program-de-finanare/