From engineering to beekeeping: the story of Mihai Curjos, the beekeeper who owns the first wax sheet production facility in Cahul

His company manages a beeswax processing workshop and its main activity is the production of wax sheets for systematic beekeeping. This is the first workshop in the Cahul region to offer such products and services. Mihai gave up to his career as an engineer to dedicate to beekeeping.

The entrepreneur received an €23,677 grant as part of the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF. Using the grant and personal funds, Mihai Curjos purchased several pieces of equipment for wax processing, from raw materials to the packaging of natural wax sheets.

These complex machines allow for an efficient and sustainable use of raw materials, without residues and the limited amount of waste generated by this process is used as fertiliser. Since the workshop of Mihai Curjos was opened, beekeepers from Cahul do not need anymore to travel to other localities to buy wax sheets. 

This has facilitated access to wax processing services for beekeepers in the southern part of the country. Mihai Curjos’ workshop produces as well decorative candles of different shapes and sizes.

Since February 2022, his company generated three jobs, processed approximately 7 tons of beeswax and is planning to expand its activity.

Besides this business, his family, passionate about beekeeping, owns an apiary in Larga Nouă village and a beekeeping shop in Cahul city. 

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