Vasile Tofan in Costesti
Local business owners shared this information with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, who visited the village on a working trip.
Kostesti has a population of about 8,500, which is larger than that of some district centers, and local businesses generate a turnover of nearly 900 million lei, accounting for approximately one-quarter of the total turnover of all businesses in the Ialoveni District.
The region is also home to about 1,000 table grape growers.
A significant portion of the investment in Costesti comes from the diaspora, which demonstrates how strong the bond is between those who have left their homeland and their village.
Costești was also one of the first villages in the Republic of Moldova to issue municipal bonds, which were also purchased by members of the diaspora. This is a good example of how innovative financial instruments can mobilize people’s savings and turn them into investments for community development.
“I really like the entrepreneurial spirit you can feel here. Costesti is, in a sense, a village with the energy of a city. People produce, invest, export, and constantly strive to do everything better. It is one of the communities that fills me with optimism about the future of villages in Moldova,” said Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.
During discussions with producers and exporters of grapes, fruits, and honey, as well as entrepreneurs from other sectors, several specific issues were addressed. These include the development of irrigation systems in the central part of the country, investments in modern technologies, and the expansion of facilities for sorting, grading, packaging, and storing fruit.
Representatives of the beekeeping sector proposed changes to the tax base and measures that could promote the sector’s development and competitiveness. Farmers also discussed the need for clearer and more predictable subsidy mechanisms so that investments can be planned for the medium and long term.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government will focus on eliminating bottlenecks and making structural investments that increase productivity and added value: “We need to invest in what will allow our entrepreneurs to grow faster: irrigation, technology, post-harvest infrastructure, processing, and better access to markets. Costesti shows what a community can achieve when there is initiative, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit. Our role is to help such communities realize their potential.”
