Public decision makers support job-creating investments of the private sector.

The project provides consultancy services for the Prime Minister’s Office and for the relevant Government agencies promoting investments, particularly the Parliamentary Committee for economy, budget and finance, the State Chancellery, Ministry of Economy and Moldovan Investment and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO).

Economic policy advice is implemented primarily in the capital Chisinau, while promoting individual investment locations includes also other regions of the country, especially the structurally weak ones.

The offered advice covers two areas: (1) Investment conditions in the country are improved, through developing measures to overcome administrative and technical barriers for investments and to simplify requirements for investments. Involvement of the private sector in the elaboration of reform proposals plays a central role. 2) Investment promotion services are strengthened: The Government of the Republic of Moldova is supported in the provision of assistance for the potential and current investment projects that create new jobs. Besides providing customer-oriented information material and network contacts, these services include also individual assistance to the investing companies.

The overall program objective is to create additional jobs for the Moldovan economy, which will in turn contribute to increased welfare, tax incomes and employment. The project will contribute to this objective through the approach:

1. Legislative changes or decisions have been adopted by the Government, in accordance with the principles of social market economy:

In a multi-level approach, the project has the objective to perfect the legal and regulatory framework for improving the investment climate - actions based on dialogue between government and private sector.

2. Coordinated processes between government institutions and private sector have been initiated to promote investment activities:

The reform proposals developed as a result of dialogue between the public and private sector, will significantly contribute to improve investment conditions. The existing administrative and technical barriers of the investment process shall be reduced. Therefore, private sector actors such as business and sector associations (e.g. Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova, European Business Association), are supported to identify priority needs for action to improve investment conditions. Action proposals for improving investment conditions and a priority list for political and economic reforms for 5 sectors of the economy or the political sphere will be prepared.

3. Companies have benefited from services provided by the Moldovan Investment and Export Promotion Organization:

Project activities are oriented towards consultancy services provided for investment promotion in cooperation with existing state structures (MIEPO). Together with MIEPO, will be ensured a pro-active support to foreign and national companies determined to invest in Moldova. Additionally, these services will include overcoming barriers faced by already existing investors, based on the assignments received from Government structures.

Additionally, the project will provide advice for the preparation of business development plans for selected locations, and will initiate an experience exchange with responsible decision makers from other Southern-East European countries. The possibilities and conditions for investments in infrastructure for selected business locations (e.g. Industrial Parks or Free Economic Zones), especially in structurally weak regions, will be tested (e.g. through feasibility studies). Therefore, important preconditions will be created for the settlement of companies in areas of the country previously disadvantaged.

The project will ensure support in maintaining and developing the informational system of MIEPO, oriented towards delivering information requested by potential investors (sectors, legislation and regulations for import/ export, taxes, available locations for investment projects, service deliverers, and available workforce).