European Union offers €770,000 for private sector development in Cahul and Ungheni focal regions

A grants’ program for companies, startups, and social entrepreneurship was launched today

November 4, 2020

European Union will offer €770,000 for private sector development in Cahul and Ungheni focal regions. A broad grants’ program dedicated to existing firms, start-ups, and social entrepreneurship initiatives from both regions was launched today by the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme, financed and strategically guided by EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

“I am proud to announce another very important step for the EU Focal Regions programme. This EU Grants’ Program will support existing enterprises, start-ups, and social entrepreneurship initiatives from both regions, with at least 28 companies and economic operators benefiting from direct support. The EU is investing almost €23,000,000 in the Focal Regions programme, with the objective to spur inclusive, green, smart and sustainable economic development. The EU Focal Regions programme is for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and this initiative aims at creating job opportunities and economic development to improve the quality of life of the citizens,” stated Magdalena Mueller-Uri, Head of Operations Section at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.

28 companies from Ungheni and Cahul Focal Regions will benefit this year from grants of €15,000 - €30,000 each. The financial assistance can be used to purchase equipment, goods, works and services to expand the business, create new jobs and increase the attractiveness of key regions for new investments. The program will go along with free-of-charge mentorship, trainings, and coaching to foster entrepreneurial culture in the focal regions. The detailed contest conditions and the application forms are available on the webpages www.eu4cahul.md , www.eu4ungheni.md. The deadline for submitting the applications is 30 November 2020, 17.00.   

“The programme consisting of non-reimbursable financial assistance for the entrepreneurs from Ungheni and Cahul regions comes as a response to the public health and socioeconomic crisis caused by COVID-19. Supporting the private sector development is key to ensure job creation for women and men from rural and urban areas and promote accelerated sustainable economic development of the focal regions. Besides financial assistance, the program will provide continuous and multi-pronged support over a span of two years through training, coaching, and mentoring tailored to the needs of every beneficiary,” mentioned Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative for the Republic of Moldova.

The entrepreneurs from Ungheni and Cahul regions can submit an application for the following categories:

1. Support and expansion of existing businesses (grants of € 30,000 each for 16 beneficiaries)

Minimum requirements:

  • Economic entity registered in the Republic of Moldova;
  • Company with more than 3 years of activity, located in Cahul or Ungheni regions (urban or rural area);
  • A minimum of 10% co-funding from own resources (no in-kind) is mandatory.

2. Support for existing or newly created startups (grants of €15,000 or €25,000 each for 10 beneficiaries)

Minimum requirements:

  • Economic entity registered in the Republic of Moldova;
  • Company with more than 3 years of activity, located in Cahul or Ungheni regions (urban or rural area) or entrepreneur willing to launch a new business in the rural communities from Cahul or Ungheni regions;
  • A minimum of 5% (for grants up to €15,000) or of 10% (for grants up to €25,000) co-funding from own resources (no in-kind) is mandatory.

3. Support for social entrepreneurship initiatives (grants of €20,000 each for 2 (two) social entrepreneurship projects)

Minimum requirements:

  • Group of individuals that will be registered as a legal entity by the time of the award as well as existing company or entrepreneurs having the mission to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues, being either non-profit or blend for-profit goals with generating a positive "return to society";
  • A minimum of 5% co-funding from own resources (no in-kind) is mandatory.

State enterprises or companies established by local governments are not eligible for this contest.

This is the first call for grants dedicated to entrepreneurs from Cahul and Ungheni regions organized under EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme. The next call for private sector from the focal regions will be launched in 2021. The total value of grants for the business sector in the Cahul and Ungheni regions that will be awarded in the period 2020-2024 as part of the program is about €1.7 million.

“EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme (2019-2024) supports smart, inclusive and sustainable social-economic development in Cahul and Ungheni regions to ensure better standards of living for citizens. The Programme has a total budget of €23 million, is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).