21 entrepreneurs presented their business plans at a marathon organized in Soroca

The ideas presented in the competition were both original and diverse and included, among others, the following: development of a digital marketing agency, a smart greenhouse, production of smart pots, manufacture of wooden and iron articles, manufacture of pillows, expanding a sheep farm and producing cheeses, launching a bicycle rental service in the city of Soroca and a photo editing studio, tea production, etc.

As a result of the competition, five business ideas were selected by a jury formed of representatives of Soroca District Council, the International Labour Organization, ACETI, Moldcell, GIZ, Rotary Club, as well as of representatives of business circles of Soroca district.

The grand award was taken by Eudochia Pascari, who owns a fast-food type cafeteria. Thanks to the financial assistance worth 2,500 Euro offered by the ILO, Eudochia will purchase three installations, which will make her work easier and help her save time and resources in the production process. "One of these installations is the packaging machine, which will allow me to pack the semi-finished products in vacuum and thus forfeit the plastic casseroles. This prize is a great help to me, and also a stimulus to further develop our business at home and create new jobs", states the entrepreneur.

The second award, worth 2,000 Euro, was awarded to Alina Marețcaia. As a physician, she sought to launch an artificial salinity in Soroca, and the financial assistance she received will help her to procure the necessary equipment. Elvira Benderleu produces ecological bags and won the third award, worth 1,000 Euro. This money will assist her to procure the necessary equipment for bags’ personalization as well as to create a new job within the enterprise.

“It was rather complicated to select the five winning ideas in this marathon, because there were many good ideas and ambitious participants with a virtuous competitive spirit. But we chose those who came up with feasible ideas and could ensure job creation while launching or expanding their business. However, we are glad that most of the entrepreneurs were ambitious to realize their ideas apprehended and developed during the training course supported by the ILO, regardless of the results of the marathon", stated Vrabie Violeta, ILO project coordinator.

Most of the participants in the marathon have previously benefited from a training course in entrepreneurship, provided for by the International Labor Organization within the Local Employment Partnership in Soroca. "The participants in the training had the opportunity to learn about the innovative approach in entrepreneurship and benefit from the advice of Incubator’s expert-mentors in view of their business plans development. This explains the large number of participants with innovative and future oriented ideas", mentioned Liliana Barbara, the manager of Soroca Business Incubator.

Among the beneficiaries of the training and one of the three winners of the third award is Cristina Bartea from Floriceni village, Soroca district. Cristina founded, together with her husband, a sheep farm and now they raise over 400 sheep. "During the training course, I learned how to correctly calculate the budget, how to set the price for the dairy products, how to expand the business properly, without losses. But equally important was learning how to promote our products and build a network of faithful customers. The training was very helpful. That's why we decided to participate in the marathon of business ideas, expecting that we will win not only knowledge but also a part of the money needed to purchase a fodder baling press", mentioned Cristina.

The support is provided under the framework of the Soroca Local Employment Partnership (LEP) which involves seven actions aimed at creating and formalizing approximately 550 jobs and launching about 26 start-ups in sectors with job-creation potential, together with growth at 24 micro and small enterprises.

The implementation of LEP Soroca envisages the involvement of about 20 public and private partners at the national and local levels, including civil society organizations, educational and training institutions, the employment service, producers’ associations, enterprises and investors. The implementation of LEP Soroca will cost 5,119,269 MDL of which 2,031,929 MDL are provided by the ILO in the framework of the project "Job creation at the local level in Moldova through the adoption of a new, gender-transformative National Employment Strategy and its decentralized implementation through Local Employment Partnerships”.

 For more details, please contact: vrabie@ilo.org or call + (373) 78 11 33 90.