Closing event of development cooperation project between Latvia and Moldova “Support to the growth of Moldova's regions by enhancing their resilience to conditions in emergency situation and mitigating the long-term consequences of COVID-19” took place on Saturday, 5 December 2020 in an online format. Numerous event participants from Moldova were invited to visit Latvia virtually to explore local products and services of Latvia’s rural entrepreneurs - home producers, farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Bilateral cooperation project focused on the support to the development of the regions of Moldova, improving the ability to adapt the conditions of an emergency and reducing the long-term consequences caused by COVID-19. The project was implemented by Latvian NGO “Latvijas Lauku forums” and Moldovan LEADER Network in the Republic of Moldova, North Regional Development Agency and ATU Gagauzia with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
The virtual visit to Latvia marked the end of an intensive cycle of Latvian and Moldovan rural entrepreneur’s experience exchange webinars with the aim of promoting the development of the LEADER network in the territory of Moldova.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Vidzeme Planning Region and project partners in Moldova, number of webinars on regional development took place, where Latvian partners shared experience in areas of investor attracting through online platform and publications, usage of Geographic information system as a tool, monitoring of strategies, as well as development of projects for attracting grants.
During the closing event of the project H.E. Uldis Mikuts, the Ambassador of Latvia to Moldova, underlined that Moldova has been a priority recipient of Latvia's assistance in development cooperation since 2005, and during this time 85 bilateral projects have been successfully implemented. The Ambassador expressed gratitude for the cooperation efforts of both sides to increase the potential of rural regions in Moldova, by sharing Latvia’s experience with the planning regions of the North and Gagauzia, and by supporting rural entrepreneurs through development of digital tools such as the database of Moldovan local entrepreneurs.
H.E. Andrian Roșa, the Ambassador of Moldova to Latvia, highlighted importance of the bilateral development cooperation based on the bilateral agreements between the Latvia and Moldova. The ambassador emphasized special place of regional cooperation as during this time 27 regional cooperation agreements has been concluded and noted the necessity to increase regional cooperation in the future.
Besides of the exchange of experience within the project, Moldovan partners were working with local action groups in Moldova on creation of usable databases on local entrepreneurs and were organizing workshops on Facebook. As the additional result of the project is creation of three specially designed brand books for better communication with potential customers.