In order to support the capital’s businesses, the Chisinau municipal authorities created the Municipal Center for Entrepreneurship Development (MCED) in October 2023. Its main purpose is to provide consulting services, training and access to financial support instruments for entrepreneurs, especially young entrepreneurs. With these measures, the capital’s authorities are trying to stop migration among young people.
Startups receive information and advice on launching, expanding and developing their businesses, as well as access to various financial support tools through municipal grant programs. The center implements four programs, its director Pyotr Gurgurov specified. They are financed from the municipal budget and donor funds.
Thus, under the municipal mentoring program, 3,425 people received business assistance through training and consultations during this period.
The most massive entrepreneurial training program provided assistance to 7,033 young people who participated in training modules on such areas as entrepreneurship basics, digital marketing, e-commerce, financial and tax management, access to sources of funding, etc.
Under the third program “Start-ap pentru tineri si migranti”, 16 projects in areas such as alternative energy, information technology, online learning, etc. received funding. This is a program of rapid growth for young people from 18 to 40 years old with a grant of 30% of the project amount, but not more than 250 thousand lei and coverage of interest rates on loans (up to 100 thousand lei).
The fourth program within the business incubator provides entrepreneurs with office and production premises, as well as assistance in obtaining financing. Its residents recorded a sixfold increase in turnover thanks to support in the form of mentoring, counseling and assistance in obtaining financing.
The Municipal Center for Entrepreneurship Development cooperates with more than 25 partners from eight European countries and has developed project proposals worth 70 million lei, including initiatives in digitalization, innovation and green energy.
