Press releases
The Xth International SME Conference gathered more than 350 participants
Around 350 entrepreneurs, representatives of central and local public authorities as well as business support institutions, are participating in the International SME Conference today, 6 October 2017, with the generics “Smart Specialisation, the engine of economic growth of the regions of the Republic of Moldova”, carried out by the Organisation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ODIMM) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova. The event is part of the series of entrepreneurship promotion activities organised at national level under the “MOLDOVA BUSINESS WEEK 2017”. The objective of the conference is to present the socio-economic potential of the regions of the Republic of Moldova and to identify support instruments for the reorientation of industrial structures towards emerging branches and international markets. The event addresses the new opportunities and challenges arising from the Republic of Moldova’s progress in responsibly assuming and implementing the commitments resulting from the European path.
Opening the conference, Yulia Iabanji, Director-General of ODIMM, said that today’s event was a unique and excellent platform for an open and constructive dialogue, in which the new opportunities and challenges arising from the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in taking on and implementing responsibly the commitments resulting from the European path would be addressed. 
“Today it is imperative for Moldova to adopt a new method of developing entrepreneurship, the Intelligent Specialisation. In this initiative, SMEs remain a strategic objective for us because of their potential to generate income and new jobs, to simultaneously promote social integration and cultural diversity, human development, retention and capitalisation of talent. I am confident that in the near future the domestic business environment will be able to offer high value-added products on foreign markets at competitive prices and of excellent quality ", reiterated the Director-General of ODSME.
Octavian Calmâc, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Infrastructure said that the Government of the Republic of Moldova aims to create a regulatory framework that is as favourable as possible to entrepreneurs. SMEs currently make up 98 % of all businesses, with 60 % of the total workforce, contributing around 30 per cent of Moldova’s GDP in the year. In this respect, an important instrument for reform policies is the Association Agreement with the EU and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement signed in June 2014.“SMEs are the engine of the economy and in this respect an important policy and reform instrument is the Association Agreement with the EU and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement signed in June 2014. We thank the development partners. With their support, we are developing business support programmes – PARE 1 + 1, PNAET, Women in Business”. Referring to the topic discussed today at the conference, Octavian Calmâc reiterated that the smart development of regions starts from our national traditions that we need to showcase.
Peter Michalko, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, mentioned that the number of entrepreneurs present at the event is a clear indicator that the country not only needs but also has a very high potential to implement reforms in the economy so as to increase the level of development. According to the European diplomat, the EU will continue the support of the Republic of Moldova for the implementation of the DCFTA Agreement through which the business community can access the largest European market. 
“Since 2007, ODIMM has benefited from EU support for entrepreneur support projects: Seems 1 + 1, Business Incubators. ODSME has become a reliable partner for the EU by promoting the stimulation of SME development and the successful history of ODSME collaboration with the EU will not stop there. The EU will continue to fund the business support programmes “Business Academy for Women”, “Business Incubators”. For next year ODSMEs will receive around EUR 4 million for programme continuity and technical assistance of EUR 2 million, EUR 6 million for managed programmes”, said Peter Michalko.
During the day, the rapporteurs will present information on the economic and competitive development of the Republic of Moldova, studies and research by foreign experts on mapping and identifying regional potential, presentation of the experience of Romania and Italy in splitting development regions. Support instruments for SMEs at regional level and methods to promote regional competitive potential and advantage in the Republic of Moldova will also be described.
An exhibition with traditional products specific to the 4 development regions of the Republic of Moldova (North, Centre, South and UTA Gagauzia) is open during the event.
The conference will conclude with the award ceremony of the winners of the national competitions “Best entrepreneur in the SME sector” and “IMM – Model for Social Responsibility”.
Communication Department and ODIMM RP