Press releases

Chisinau,26 April 2024 — The contribution of consultancy companies in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises was discussed today at an outreach event organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation (MDED) and the Organisation for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), in partnership with the World Bank Competitiveness Project and the Business and Management Consultants Association (ACAM).

‘In order to increase their competitiveness and grow dynamically, Moldovan SMEs need knowledge and financing. The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation provides Moldovan entrepreneurs with both these components through ODA funding programmes, which provide access to the knowledge of consultancy companies“”, said the Secretary of State, Veronica Arpintin, Secretary of State at the MDED. These priorities are also set out in strategic policy documents – the SME Sector Development and Competitiveness Programme and the Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Moldova, specified the Secretary of State.

More than 60 representatives of the business support sector, members of different organisations and industry associations participated in the event.

Director ODA, Vadim Codreanu in his speech, reported on ODA support and the role of advisory services in SME capacity building and competitiveness.

‘ODA has a very ambitious mission, we aim to change the business environment in Moldova to face. In this respect, ODA has effective tools and business advisors have an important role to play in private sector development’. mentioned Vadim Codreanu.

During the event, information was also presented with reference to the support for the internationalisation of Moldovan companies, provided through the World Bank Competitiveness Project. It provides grants of up to lei 600 thousand for activities that can contribute to exports of Moldovan products and services. “The project supports the Republic of Moldova in three layers-digitalisation of the various regulatory processes that reduce the compliance burden on business, the capitalisation of the guarantee fund to access bank loans, and

grants to SMEs through ODA. These means cover the expertise of consultants for business support", said Aureliu Casian, Executive Director of the Project.

The event also included a practical session where the delivery mechanism to ODA programmes was discussed in detail, reflecting relevant information and practical recommendations to support SMEs in the implementation process.

Anatol Palade, President of the Association of Business and Management Consultations of the Republic of Moldova, ACAM, came forward with a number of proposals for the development of the consultancy market. According to this, 619 consultancy companies with nearly 1,600 employees are currently active in Moldova. According to Anatol Palade, business consultants help local companies grow, compensating knowledge needs by specialised areas. The most requested consultancy services in Moldova are strategic advice (market analysis, business planning, sales, reorganisation)-40 %, Project Management – 30 % consultancy on operational management and outsourcing of business processes – 10 %.