With the EU support, young entrepreneurs from both banks of the Nistru River create new jobs

Open-air training services, Dental Imaging Center for clients from Soldanesti, Floresti, Rezina and Ribnita, on the left bank of the Nistru River, quail farm or greenhouses for growing cherry tomatoes are just some of the ideas that youth transformed into businesses. The entrepreneurs received EU support in the amount of up to EUR 13,500 and benefitted from business management training.

“EU pays special attention to youth entrepreneurship and will continue to support young people deciding to pursue their business ideas. With this initiative, we helped people from both banks of Nistru river to pursue their goals. I strongly believe that the business bridges but also your friendship will contribute to the development of your communities", said Pirkka Tapiola, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, at the closing event of the Youth Business Empowerment Project.

“18 of the Programme grants have been provided to women. We are strongly committed to helping more women on both banks put their potential to use, and we will look for additional ways to provide such support in the future”, noted Stefan Liller, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

The grants helped to keep some of the beneficiaries at home, close to family. Vitalii Kovali from Dubasari, on the left bank, was at the point of migrating to Russian Federation, when he found out he had obtained over EUR 12,000 to start his own business, a dairy farm.

Several bee-keepers expanded their business or implemented innovative ideas, such as manufacturing multi-level beehives or honey collection directly to jars. Natalia Porhun from the village of Speia, Grigoriopol district, the left bank of the Nistru River, purchased equipment to collect honey from honeycombs, which is difficult to do manually. The centrifuge is built into a truck. “This makes possible to provide similar services to other bee-keepers, including on the right bank”, says Natalia.

In the summer of 2016, Zinaida Stefanco and her husband Serghei from Ucrainca, Causeni, started to make sheep cheese with modern equipment that they received thanks to the European grant. “It would have been very difficult for us to start up such a business on our own. Even if there is an idea and a will, the financial support is what made it happen”. They sell all their products on the left bank of the Nistru.

Car repair and testing services was another type of supported business. Andrei Klimenko rented an old Soviet-type production hall where he installed lathes to make wire to attach vine, which is a profitable niche nobody had ever used before him.

The youth business empowerment project from the communities from both banks of the Nistru River was implemented in two stages (2013-2014 and 2015-2016). 71 young entrepreneurs started up their business and created more than 300 jobs.

SCBM Programme aims to increase trust between the people from both banks of the Nistru River by involving local authorities, civil society organisations, and business community representatives in joint activities in two core areas: business development and improving community infrastructure. The Programme has a total budget of 10 million Euro, provided by the European Union, and is implemented by the UNDP.