Press releases
Medicinal and aromatics industry supported by a cross-border project
Moldova, together with Greece, Armenia and Georgia it aimed to modernise companies associated with the cultivation and promotion of plants and plant products to help increase cross-border business opportunities for companies in Black Sea basin countries. The 4 countries are partners in the European project ‘HEGO – Plants for Growth’implemented within Joint Operational Programme in the Black Sea basin 2014-2020. Organisation for the Development of the Sector of Small and Medium Enterprises (ODIMM)as project implementing partner in the Republic of Moldova, it organised first national event disseminating this cross-border initiative, in which they participated representatives of public authorities, research institutions, academic/training centres, entrepreneurs and project partners.
At the start of the event, Iulia Costin, Director General ODIMM stressed that the Republic of Moldova has a street of advantages for the development of this industry.“The domestic products of the Republic of Moldova, based on erbaceatics and plant products with value added, are valued both on the local market and abroad, being used in industries: food, cosmetics and home care, decor & design and pharmaceuticals. With this project we aim to force this area of activity to harness the unexplored potential. We also intend to come up with dedicated and sustainable initiatives, including the creation of a cross-border cluster of profile”.
Project manager, Tassos LivadiotisDevelopment Association, Halkidiki (Greece) stressed that today’s global traditional and innovative use of plants with added value represents a growing demand and revealed new business opportunities in this area. “According to recent statistics on international trade (UN, UNCOMTRADE), global export demand and prices of plants with added value will continuously increase until 2025 and plant products of improved quality and increased nutracetic value will become more attractive to consumers. We want the HEGO project to succeed in bringing together both important actors in the erbaceic product value chain, as well as manufacturers, academics, local authorities, etc to help increase cross-border business opportunities for companies in Black Sea Basin countries”.
The virtual event highlighted opportunities for the growth, production, promotion and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants. At the same time, successful histories of Moldovan entrepreneurs were disseminated, the contribution of key players in the development of the targeted sector, as well as activities envisaged under the project.
This is the first project promotion event ‘HEGO – Plants for Growth’. Similar activities will also be carried out in the bottom partner countries:
a) Armenia – January 2022,
b) Georgia – May 2022 and
C) Greece – October 2022.
We would point out that the Republic of Moldova, due to both favourable climatic and environmental conditions and rich florlor, is an important area for the area of eteric crops. According to data from the “National Report on Biological Diversity. Republic of Moldova’ in the year 2019cultivation medicinal plants aromatics also occupied an area of around 3.5 thousand ha. They are now officially registered more than 50 producer farmers by aromatic and medicinal plants, including lavande and salvie, which are used on the local market, but also exported to overseas enterprises. Of the total number of 26 producers of medicinal products from the Republic of Moldova, 17 companies produce patchwork, vegetal products and medicinal plants. Of the number of 1,156 medicinal products produced in the country, 238 (20.59 %) are pattopreparates, plant products and medicinal plants.
‘The ‘HEGO-plants for growth’ project is financed by the European Union through the Joint Operational Programme in the Black Sea basin 2014-2020. The initiative was launched in July 2020 and implemented by a consortium from 5 organisations from 4 countries: Development Association of Halkidiki, Greece (leader); Organisation for the Development of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Sector (ODIMM), R.Moldova; Aristotel University of Thessaloniki; Georgian Association of Fermiums and the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development, Armenia. The objective of the project is to modernise companies associated with the cultivation and promotion of plants and plants with added value and to help increase cross-border business opportunities for companies in Black Sea basin countries.
See below the presentations at the event:
Oxana Paladiciuc – Analysis of the Market Research Questionnaire in the Republic of Moldova
Presentation of the results of the analysis on the training needs of the HEGO target group
Presentation of the HEGO_Moldova project
