Rural development remains in the focus of the EU’s attention, stated the Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Chisinau Peter Michalko, announcing the launch of the information campaign “EU for Rural Moldova”. This is a project designed to propagate the results and changes achieved in rural areas with the EU’s support, IPN reports.
“Within this campaign, we would like to see more interested sides so that the rural areas realize the existing opportunities and invite communities to promote initiatives on the spot as, who else if not they, know the necessities and challenges in their localities and how they can be overcome with the support of the European Union. Because only together we become stronger,” stated the European ambassador.
Peter Michalko noted the EU during many years has supported rural communities through projects that would help the people in villages feel better. The goal of the campaign launched today is for a larger number of people to learn about what the European Union does to contribute to the development of rural communities in Moldova. “We offer money and you implement projects for your future,” said the ambassador.
Attending the launch, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Dorin Andros said that owing to the EU’s support the national authorities managed to review the strategy for developing agriculture and rural areas, with the basis for developing regulations for financing rural development measures being laid.
The creation of local action groups that represent the pillar in the initiation and implementation of rural development projects was one of the first initiatives promoted with the EU’s support, said the executive director of the LEADER National Network in Moldova Ana Cherneva. Currently, there are 32 local action groups, with over 300 localities and approximately 1,500 residents being involved in decision-making at the local level.
The Development of Rural Areas in the Republic of Moldova (DevRAM) is another successful program. Project manager Artur Profire said this is designed to improve the competitiveness of the agrifood sector by integrating it into domestic and global value chains, especially in the soybean sector, with a budget of €3 million, and to strengthen the water supply and sewerage infrastructure in rural communities by safely disposing of wastewater in Cantemir (budget of €8.7m).
The SME sector is among the sectors that were hit by the pandemic the worst. Iulia Costin, director general of the Organization for the Development of the Sector of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprisers, said that among the results achieved during 13 years are the starting of 304 businesses, creation of 2,300 jobs and training of 400 persons. The sum of the provided grants exceeded €2.7 million.
These projects developed with the EU’s assistance support local producers and SMEs, stimulating new accomplishments, primarily in Moldova’s rural areas.
