International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day brought together more than 60 women
Over 60 women entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova gathered at the event dedicated to the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, organized by the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization and development partners.
The event brought together representatives of public authorities, development partners, mentors, trainers, experts in leadership and finance, as well as women entrepreneurs from various fields.
At the opening of the event, ODA Director Vadim Codreanu emphasized the institution’s commitment to promoting and supporting women in business, highlighting the importance of the support provided to women entrepreneurs across the country.
“We highlight the major contribution of women to economic development through their ability to transform concepts into functional and sustainable initiatives. The more than 11,800 beneficiaries of ODA programs over the last four years confirm the effectiveness of our support instruments, which include grants for digitalization and re-technologization, financial guarantees, and specialized trainings. Every business launched becomes a real vector of economic growth and community development,” stated Vadim Codreanu, ODA Director.
“Promoting women’s entrepreneurship is not only a social priority but also an economic necessity. We want to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to turn her ideas into sustainable businesses, thus contributing to the prosperity of society as a whole. Creating an enabling environment and supporting entrepreneurial education are essential for women to fully capitalize on their potential and make a significant impact on economic development,” stated Natalia Selevestru, State Secretary, MDED.
“When women expand their businesses, they contribute to enhancing competitiveness, resilience, and inclusion across the entire economy. This is why the European Union is a strong partner in supporting women’s entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova. Through projects such as ‘EU for SMEs’, we are building an ecosystem where women entrepreneurs can access financing and develop the skills and confidence needed to grow their businesses,” stated Julda Kielyte, Team Leader for Competitive and Inclusive Growth, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.
“UN Women strongly supports women’s economic participation, especially in vulnerable and rural settings. The WE4WE project, implemented together with ODA, has demonstrated that investing in women means investing in society as a whole. Women entrepreneurs in Moldova are an example of resilience, creativity, and transformative capacity,” stated Tatiana Udrea, Gender Specialist, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Resilience, UN Women.
“Women entrepreneurs in Moldova have overcome barriers, reinvented business models, and demonstrated that women’s leadership is a key pillar of economic development. AFAM continues to be the voice of these women and to promote an entrepreneurial culture based on collaboration, trust, and perseverance. We are here to connect, inspire, and grow together,” stated Carolina Bugaian, President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Moldova.
In the last four years, ODA programs dedicated to women entrepreneurs have had a significant impact at the national level. More than 11 800 women have benefited from various forms of support, which has accelerated the development of their businesses. During the same period, over 1 300 grants were offered for digitalization, re-technologization, and optimization of production processes. These interventions have supported the modernization of women-managed companies and improved their competitiveness.
Additionally, since the spring of 2023, ODA has been implementing the EU4SMEs project, funded by the European Union. From the launch of the project until now, 384 businesses have received financing, out of the total 1 300 grants awarded through ODA-managed programs. The total value of EU-funded grants amounts to 7,1 million euro, while the investments attracted into the economy exceed 15 million euro.
A core element of the project is the promotion of equal opportunities. 38% of the beneficiary enterprises are founded and managed by women. Approximately 80% of the businesses supported by the European Union are located in rural areas.
Furthermore, 270 women entrepreneurs have accessed loans through the Government Program “373”, and through the Credit Guarantee Fund, over 460 guarantees have been provided, improving access to finance and reducing investment-related risks.
In terms of professional development, over 9,400 participants have received training in areas such as management, marketing, finance, or digital transformation, strengthening the skills required to run efficient and competitive businesses.
Nearly 100 women have benefited from mentoring programs, gaining access to personalized expertise and strategic guidance, while 340 women entrepreneurs have received subsidies for participation in national exhibitions, increasing their visibility and access to new collaboration networks.
Worldwide, the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day was initiated in 2014 by American entrepreneur Wendy Diamond. The first edition was marked at the UN Headquarters and was accompanied by events held simultaneously in over 140 countries.
For more information about entrepreneurial support programs, please visit the official website www.oda.md or contact the ODA Consultation Center at 022 22 57 99.
