Press releases

ODIMM supports Moldovan companies in adapting to global trends of integrating environmentally friendly business practices. The Steering Committee of the Greening VET Programme approved today, 30 December 29 grant applications submitted by companies wishing to green their business. These access up to RON 200 per companywhich constitute up to 70 % of the amount of the investment project. 61 companies applied for grants, which went through an extensive process of selecting the eligibility and sustainability of actions to green work processes or provide services.

The amount of non-repayable funding provided by the State to the 29 businesses by means of The greening of the SMI it will be about RON 4.9 million. The total value of the investments for the implementation of the greening actions undertaken by these companies is around 5 millionI and the creation of around 100 new jobs. The investment projects selected for funding target the uptake of environmentally friendly practices, in the areas of responsible energy use, resources along the value chain, as well as raw material management, waste recycling and reuse.

The types of activity of the companies selected for funding:

— 11 companies are active in services sector

— 9 enterprises – in agri-food sector

— 9 companies are active in industry sector.

The greening actions proposed by companies aim to: waste water treatment; waste management, collection and processing, including medical waste; reducing energy consumption through the implementation of thermal recovery systems; management of water resources through the installation of the treatment plant;ECO and BIO certification services, air filtering ventilation systems, etc.

The timeliness and necessity of promoting the greening of production and service delivery processes is justified by the fact that reducing the environmental impact of HMEs in both the manufacturing and service sectors is a key factor in the greening of the economy given that HMEs account for about 98.6 % of all businesses and the value of the total production of HMEs constitutes 67 % of the value of the total production of businesses in the Republic of Moldova.

Analysis of international statistics has revealed that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) generate around 64 % of industrial pollution, while only 16 % of them are engaged in environmental action. Thus, a range of tools and best practices to encourage “greening of SMEs” that are implemented by the Member States of the European Union can be adapted and disseminated among Moldovan SMEs in order to boost sustainable development and international economic competitiveness.

ODSMEs shall support and develop the capabilities of SMUs for the adoption of practices for greening production and service delivery processes.

Through the Programme, the Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODSME) covers two categories of instruments:

1. Training and mentoring in greening SMUs to identify and adopt concrete greening actions in production and service delivery processes;

2. Non-repayable financial support in the form of a Grant for:

a. Implementation of the Greening Business Action Plans (RON 200 000) under Phase II;

b. Implementation of ISO/EMAS standards, EU Ecolabel (RON 500 000) under Phase III.

The LOW Greening Programme was approved by the Government of the Republic of Moldova by Government Decision No 592 of 27 November 2019, with a piloting period of 36 months, and implemented by ODIMM in coordination with the Ministry of Economy. Since the start of the programme, 18 companies have received grants and 318 company managers have been trained. Companies interested in this Programme can apply by filling in the form https://odimm.md/ro/ecoimm

See list of companies approved for funding