With European Union assistance entrepreneurs from Ungheni and Cahul regions develop their businesses
A new grants programme of 700 000 EUR, benefiting companies, start-ups, and social entrepreneurship initiatives from Cahul and Ungheni regions was launched. The financial assistance to develop the private sector in these two focal regions is provided by the European Union, in the framework the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme, financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
26 companies from Ungheni and Cahul Focal Regions will benefit this year from grants of 15 000 – 30 000 EUR each. This is the second call for private sector’s financing, launched by the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme. The first round was conducted in 2020, when 28 enterprises, start-ups, and social entrepreneurship initiatives benefited from similar assistance.
The financial assistance may be used to purchase equipment, goods, works, and services to expand the business, promote models of circular economy, create new jobs, and increase the attractiveness of the key regions for new investments. At the same time, the awarded entities will benefit from mentorship, trainings, and coaching to foster entrepreneurial culture.
The detailed contest conditions and the application forms are available on the webpages www.eu4cahul.md, www.eu4ungheni.md. The deadline for submitting the applications was 15 June 2021, 17.00.
The entrepreneurs from Ungheni and Cahul regions were able to apply for the following categories:
| 1. Support and expansion of existing businesses Grants of 30 000 EUR each, total number of beneficiaries: 12 (6 for Ungheni region & 6 for Cahul region) |
| Minimum requirements: -Economic entity registered in the Republic of Moldova; -Company with more than 3 years of activity, registered in Cahul or Ungheni regions (urban or rural area); -Mandatory monetary contribution of at least 10% of project total value; -No debts to the public budget. |
| 2. Support for existing or newly created startups Grants of 15 000 EUR or 25000 EUR each, total number of beneficiaries: 12 (6 for Ungheni region & 6 for Cahul region) |
| Minimum requirements: -Economic entity registered in the Republic of Moldova; -Company with more than 3 years of activity, registered in Cahul or Ungheni regions (urban or rural area) or entrepreneur willing to launch/register a new business in the rural communities from Cahul or Ungheni regions; -Mandatory monetary contribution of at least 5% of project total value (for grants up to 15 000 EUR) or 10% (for grants up to 25 000 EUR); -No debts to the public budget. |
| 3. Support for social entrepreneurship initiatives Grants of 20 000 EUR each, total number of beneficiaries: 2 (1 for Ungheni & 1 for Cahul regions) |
| Minimum requirements: -Group of individuals that will be registered as a legal entity by the time of the award as well as existing company or entrepreneurs registered in Cahul or Ungheni districts having the mission to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues, being either non-profit or blend for-profit goals with generating a positive “return to society”; -Mandatory monetary contribution of at least 5% of project total value. |
State enterprises or companies established by local governments, companies benefiting from the 2020 edition of the grant programme are not eligible for this contest.
This is the second call for grants dedicated to entrepreneurs from Cahul and Ungheni regions organized under EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme. The third and last call for private sector from the focal regions will be launched in 2022. The total value of grants for the business sector in the Cahul and Ungheni regions awarded during 2020-2024 as part of the program is about €1.7 million.
“EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme (2019-2024) supports smart, green, inclusive and sustainable social-economic development in Cahul and Ungheni regions to ensure better standards of living for citizens. The Programme has a total budget of 23 million EUR, is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
More details about the activity of the Programme in Cahul and Ungheni Regions may be found on www.eu4cahul.md and www.eu4ungheni.md