Press releases

Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODSME) it offers a wide range of entrepreneurial support mechanisms for young people in the Republic of Moldova who want to start their own businesses. The message was scored by ODIMM Director-General Iulia Costinas part of the workshop: ‘Sstamping Entrepreneurship Culture in the Youth Ring. Opportunities and Obstacles”organised by Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE).

“Over the years, ODIMM has developed and implements numerous programmes, projects and support instruments, which aim to integrate young people from the Republic of Moldova into the economic circuit by developing entrepreneurial skills and financial support for the launch and development of a sustainable business. Of the total number of beneficiaries of support programmes managed by ODIMM, more than 45 % are young people” stressed Iulia Costin.

In this context, it was highlighted that ODIMM implement from year 2019 a support initiative dedicated exclusively to young people – Programme “Start for Young People”through which 240 young people have been financially supported to set up their own businesses, and more than 2 000 they have received entrepreneurial education.

At the same time, it is expected that by the end of this year the launch of the Support and mentoring programme for social enterprises it will facilitate the launch and development of social affairs and the employment, including, of young people from socially vulnerable and disempowered backgrounds, especially in rural areas.

“ODSMEs will continue to support the involvement of all social groups in the economic ecosystem and create tangible growth opportunities for social SMEs. Creating opportunities for young people and supporting entrepreneurs in the spirit of general social well-being is the best means of combating disadvantages in the labour market and social exclusion in general. Disadvantaged groups can provide valuable resources to the economy, which need to be harnessed for the benefit of all and for a competitive and sustainable economy’, concluded ODIMM Director-General Iulia Costin.

Participants of the event addressed topics on economic policies and youth opportunities for social entrepreneurship through the lens of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union and the development of financial education among young people in the Republic of Moldova.

The event was organised by the trainees and young researchers participating in the programmes #StagiuIPRE2021 and #YoungFellowsIPRE2021 as part of the project IPRE "Change starts with you! — #BetheChange: Young people for the European penalisation of the Republic of Moldova’, implemented in cooperation with Hanns Seidel Foundation in the Republic of Moldova and with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office.