Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme support launching or development of small and medium-sized enterprises on both banks of the Nistru river through Advanced Cross-River Capacities for Trade Project (AdTrade). Beginner and experienced entrepreneurs can obtain assistance for the purchase of goods and services worth up to $15,000. The 20 selected entrepreneurs will also benefit from individual business guidance and consulting for two years, as well as free thematic workshops. The assistance will help entrepreneurs on both banks of the Nistru river to overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to adapt their business model to new realities.

The eligible applicants are people from the left bank of the Nistru River and the security zone, who want to launch or develop a business and who can contribute to 10% of the requested amount. Priority will be given to women entrepreneurs and those entrepreneurs who will offer decent jobs to socially vulnerable people, as well as those who will come up with innovative ideas, adapted to the new requirements imposed by the pandemic crisis. The project proposals for funding can be submitted during 11 June – 15 July 2020. The application forms, conditions of participation and evaluation criteria are available at http://bit.ly/adtradebusiness.

This initiative will be implemented by the UNDP/AdTrade project through the Agency for Innovation and Development and the European Business Association. On 29 and 30 June, the experts of the project and partner organizations will conduct two online information sessions on the terms and rules of the contest. During 1-3 July, several business thematic sessions shall be organized. All activities are free and open, those willing to participate being needed to register here.  

The Advanced Cross-River Capacities for Trade Project (AdTrade) provides assistance for the creation of long-term trade links between entrepreneurs on both banks of the Nistru river and enabling an environment of trust and cooperation in the region. The initiative stimulates and promotes exports of goods and services from the region by accessing the opportunities offered by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The project supports the development and enhancement of the competitiveness of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and contributes to the creation of new companies, which, implicitly, will lead to improvement of the living conditions on both banks of the Nistru river. The project is implemented by UNDP during 2019-2022 with financial assistance from Sweden.