Minister Lazar and Mr. Due Gundersen. Photo: EmbassyThe declaration belongs to the Moldovan deputy prime minister and minister of economy, Valeriu Lazar, who visited the incubator during a two-days seminar organized for the local departments of the Ministry with a view to support private small and medium businesses. The presentation of the incubator was part of the seminar. Minister Lazar was impressed by the progress done in only six months since the launch of the project and by the intense activity of the young companies. The minister encouraged them to take advantage from the benefits offered by the incubator.
Officially opened in December 2009, the business incubator in Soroca gathers under its roof 17 small and medium sized companies that enjoy privileged renting terms, free consultancy and guidance provided by the Norwegian experts and from the Organization for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development of the Moldovan Ministry of Economy (ODIMM). The companies will stay in the incubator for 3 years by which time they will have acquired the skills needed to cope with the market by themselves. The success of the project lies not only in the incubator and in the lessons and the expertise learned, but also in the recommendations of minister Lazar who believes that the BIS model can be replicated in other parts of the country.
The business incubator in Soroca is supported through Norway’s bilateral assistance to the Republic of Moldova. It is in line with the Government’s Program for re-launching and stabilization of the Moldovan economy 2009- 2011. The aim is to contribute to poverty reduction, creation of new jobs and to reduce the number of well-educated Moldovans to leave the country. It is a pilot project implemented by SINTEF, a Norwegian international scientific-technical organization, in partnership with ODIMM and the Soroca Town Council.
The Norwegian programme manager, Mr. Due Gundersen says in a comment that he is proud of what has been achieved so far, and is impressed by the altogether 17 companies and young entrepreneurs in the incubator that benefit from its services.
Details about the project and the seminar are also available at http://mec.gov.md/node/2161 and at http://prime.md/ro/news/sanse-pentru-afacerile-tinerilor-84569/