Generating Better Economic Opportunities and Skills

Two sectors are having a huge potential to enable sustainable development in Moldova: agriculture and ICT. Traditionally, agriculture and food industry sectors contribute close to 20% to the national GDP and employ almost 1/3 of the working age population. ICT sector is one of the fastest growing industries whose contribution to the GPD rose to over 7% generating high-skilled employment opportunities.

Agriculture is vulnerable to climate and weather induced risks while low level of skills, technology penetration and poor access to finances caused poor productivity and competitiveness. ICT, in turn, is focused on sophisticated programming but labour retention and almost exclusive export markets orientation doesn’t allow for full recognition and support. These are the challenges that Helvetas is tackling.

Optim 2.0 – second phase

We are particularly targeting disadvantaged groups such as young unemployed people, women, returning migrants, ethnic minorities, and those living outside the capital Chisinau.

The OPTIM Project has so far focused on supporting private sector businesses to improve their business models, adopt new products and services which opened doors to new markets. By facilitating access to information and training opportunities nationwide, more people obtain relevant demanded skills for today’s market.

In this phase Helvetas will mainly focus on increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, investing in innovative solutions and business models, digital practices and technologies that lead to economic gain. As well as to create business development opportunities and offer the beneficiaries access to higher value markets and know-how, access to efficient and accessible finance, and, just as importantly, to provide affordable training offers.

The OPTIM Project is a mandate of the Swiss Government, implemented by Helvetas in Moldova.