Digital solutions integration grants empower 10 SMEs in Southern Moldova through EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul

In an era where technology plays an increasingly vital role in the economy, the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project launched a grant programme to support the digitalization of small and medium-sized businesses in the southern region of the country. It is intended for the ten small and medium-sized enterprises from Cahul, Cantemir, Leova and Taraclia districts that have completed the Digital Upgrade programme and are ready to accelerate the digitization process of their own businesses.

The purpose and objectives of the funding programme are intended to contribute to the economic development of the southern region by integrating digital solutions and increasing the automation of work processes. Beneficiaries submitted funding applications for digitization solutions, such as electronic order management system at the shawarma stand, web pages for travel agency, tourist guesthouse and museum in the region, leisure area and logistics enterprise, subscription to pyn-booking, creation of online stores of advertising materials and furniture store and Bitrix CRM system integration for an extracurricular activities institution.

This programme represents an opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises in the southern region of the country to adapt to new market requirements and increase their competitiveness. Each beneficiary contributed with at least 20% of the total value of the digitization project, and the grant amount is transferred directly to the IT service provider company after confirming the transfer of the beneficiary’s financial contribution to the digitization service provider company. The implementation period of the projects financed under this grant programme is between three and six months.

Thus, the ten beneficiaries in the fields of tourism, public catering, logistics and education benefit from grants worth up to MDL 20,000 to accelerate their digitization process. The programme implementation period is June-October 2023.

The Small Grants programme is organized within EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul, a project financed by the European Union in partnership with Sweden and implemented by the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC).