Ilie Bolojan
The relevant regulations were approved by Government Resolution No. 601/2026. The program’s total budget is 506 million lei, which is equivalent to 100 million euros at the exchange rate of 5.06 lei per euro set for the program. According to government estimates, approximately 1,000 new companies will be eligible for support, StartupCafe reports.
The grant will be tied to a bank loan
The program is designed for startups and other recently established small and medium-sized enterprises in which a controlling stake is held by Romanian citizens who live or have previously lived abroad.
The financing mechanism involves obtaining an investment loan from banks that are partners in the program. Loan amounts can range from 5,000 to 500,000 euros, with a maximum loan term of up to 10 years. The final repayment date cannot exceed December 31, 2037.
Government support will be provided in the form of a grant that can cover up to 60% of the investment loan amount, but no more than 200,000 euros per beneficiary. Additionally, the state-owned Banca de Investiții și Dezvoltare will provide loan guarantees under the program.
Entrepreneurs’ own contribution will depend on the cost of the investment project. For projects costing up to 400,000 euros, it is set at 10%; however, for companies where at least one of the key entrepreneurs is under 35 years of age, the minimum contribution is reduced to 5%. For projects costing more than 400,000 euros, the equity contribution will be 15%.
To participate, applicants must confirm their connection to the diaspora
One of the main conditions of the program is that the business must be owned by members of the Romanian diaspora. The majority of the company’s authorized capital must be owned by Romanian citizens who have lived or resided abroad for at least 12 of the 18 months preceding the loan application.
In addition, the company’s principal owners or executives must demonstrate at least nine months of experience, professional training, or education in the field for which funding is being sought, or in the field of management.
Support will be available to companies established less than three years ago. Recipients of funding will also be required to retain the funded assets for at least three years after the completion of the investment and to comply with the established ownership structure requirements.
The program aims to leverage the financial and professional expertise of Romanians who have worked abroad to create new businesses within the country. For Romania, this represents an effort to channel some of the diaspora’s potential away from consumer spending and private remittances toward long-term investments and the development of local businesses, the publication notes.
For Moldova, a similar approach is also of interest: harnessing the economic potential of the diaspora remains one of the possible avenues for attracting capital, entrepreneurial expertise, and new business projects into the national economy.
