Challenges and opportunities of women entrepreneurs in the production sector

“Challenges and opportunities of women entrepreneurs in the production sector” is a study developed by the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Moldova (AFAM) in partnership with the NGO Agency for Innovation and Development in Tiraspol, with financial support from Sweden and the United Kingdom, under the UNDP project “Advanced Cross-River Capacities for Trade” (AdTrade).

The research aims to identify the challenges, needs, and prospects of women engaged in entrepreneurial activities, while also providing concrete recommendations for more inclusive public policies and tailored support programs adapted to the local context.

The study draws on the experiences of 106 women entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova – 56 from the right bank of the Nistru River and 50 from the left bank – who operate in diverse fields such as food production and packaging, textile industry, handicrafts, and other production-related sectors. This diversity provided a representative overview of the realities faced by women in business today.

The survey results offer a solid foundation for understanding the current context of women’s entrepreneurship in Moldova and serve as a basis for developing initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of women in the economy and society.