Press releases

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, today, 24 March 2023, paid a visit to the Entrepreneurship Development Organisation (ODA), where she learned about the programmes and tools dedicated to entrepreneurs. Maia Sandu was accompanied by the presidential advisor on economic issues, Veaceslav Negruta and the secretary of state of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitisation, Veronica Arpintin.

During the visit, the President interacted with a group of entrepreneurs, who have recently received state funding through ODA to invest in business start-up, development and internationalisation. At the same time, the Head of State had a constructive dialogue with the ODA management, discussing the institution's plans and the expectations of the local business environment in terms of state support.

During the meeting with entrepreneurs benefiting from ODA's entrepreneurial support programmes, Maia Sandu discussed challenges and resilience measures in the context of the multiple crises in the region. Entrepreneurs highlighted the importance of business support from the state, the challenges they are going through and gave suggestions for improving the interaction between the state and the business environment.

"In recent times, the ODA has undergone major transformations and has become a transparent, efficient institution, a real bridge between the state and entrepreneurs. This platform supports the development of entrepreneurship through non-reimbursable financing programmes for start-ups, training programmes for entrepreneurs and facilitating access to finance by offering financial guarantees. The entrepreneurs present at the discussion talked about the importance of ODA programmes for small and medium-sized businesses, especially in the context of the economic crisis we are facing. They appreciated the institution's openness to support innovative ideas and projects that not only help them overcome current problems, but also come up with new approaches to how they grow their business." said Maia Sandu.

According to the head of state, this year, the state will focus its efforts to revive the economy.

"The state will continue to support the business environment, including by increasing access to cheap resources. We will support entrepreneurs who work honestly, create jobs and pay taxes. The more successful businesses we have, the more the welfare of families and the country will increase", concluded the President of Moldova.

At the same time, the President of the Republic of Moldova held a discussion with the management of the ODA. 

Director Dumitru Pîntea reviewed the last year of ODA's activity, marked by a profound reform, aimed at strengthening the institution, consolidating existing programmes and launching new tools covering the needs in the entrepreneurial field.

At the same time, in 2023, with the support of the Government and external development partners, 4 new programmes will be launched, which will support women's economic empowerment (Women in Business), small businesses (Small Producers), export capacity building (Local Suppliers) and agri-tourism development (Rural Tourism).

At the same time, access to finance for SMEs will be increased this year through the launch of the Portfolio Guarantees product and the launch of the Fund for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth of Moldova (FACEM). This Fund, created by the Government, will provide a boost to businesses with growth potential by offering low-interest loans through financial institutions.

"ODA's long-term objective is to become a credible, transparent, flexible and well-governed financial institution that can support the Government's economic policies. The ODA must become the institution that can absorb and channel to entrepreneurs the financial resources made available in the context of the Republic of Moldova becoming an EU candidate state," said Dumitru Pîntea.

In this context, Veronica Arpintin, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitisation, said:

"The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitisation wants to become a reliable partner of entrepreneurs, that's why in the coming period we will offer even more freedom to the business environment. We want to reduce red tape, access to financing on preferential terms and access to financial instruments with a lower interest rate. In this context, I would like to mention that the ODA has achieved considerable efficiency, the mechanisms of the institution are simplified and fair, and I express my hope that it will become a modern institution that will help companies in training and financing. And entrepreneurs will be able to benefit from all existing programmes, depending on their needs."