The EU4Business-supported programmes can transform the ideas of entrepreneurs from the Republic of Moldova into successful businesses. The „EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” is such a programme intended for those who plan to start or expand their businesses in the Cahul and Ungheni regions.
Among the businesses supported by the European Union as part of its EU4Business Iniaitive are the handicraft ones.
Business „embroidered” with European funds
Liliana Starciuc is a popular craftswoman from Ungheni municipality. She has been passionate about traditional crafts since childhood, and her love for embroidery, crochet and weaving is inherited from her grandmother.
„My grandmother used to weave and embroider, so did my mother, and so did we, being small children. Every beginning is hard, some say. It wasn't difficult for me, I didn't have this feeling,” confesses the entrepreneur.
In 2018, she decided to invest in an activity of the soul, that will also bring joy to the people of the district. Liliana creates ii (meaning embroidered peasant blouses), shirts and traditional dresses. Thanks to the „EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, supported by the European Union under its EU4business initiative and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, Liliana benefited in 2020 from financial support of EUR 25,000. Thanks to this, she was able to automate her activity, which allowed her to create jobs, but also to complete orders in a shorter time. With the money, Liliana purchased four state-of-the-art sewing machines and manages to embroider clothes in just a few days. That way she has more time to create and design new models.
„The EU4Business support helped me a lot, because a piece of cloth I embroider by hand takes about 3-5 months, by machine is done in 3-4 days,” explains Liliana.
Liliana’s workshop is also an attraction for tourists visiting Ungheni municipality who are interested in the culture and traditions of this region. Her creations have reached beyond the borders of the Republic of Moldova, being appreciated both by the customers from the country and from abroad.
Business specialised in the restoration and production of woodwork
Maxim Rusnac is a passionate wood entrepreneur from the village of Floreni, in Ungheni district. After 19 years spent abroad, Maxim returned home to launch his own business. In 2022, he founded a workshop specialized in the restoration and production of wooden works.
The young man learned the carpentry trade as a child, at first as a hobby, and later it became a profession. Now, Maxim is proud to be developing a business in his hometown.
Maxim makes wooden icons, miniatures of shrines, tables, barrels, gates, personalized trophies, pool cues, and souvenirs.
With the support of the „EU4Moldova: Key Regions” Programme under the EU4Business Initiative Maxim benefited from a grant worth EUR 25,000 – money that enabled the workshop to be equipped with lathes and wood sanding machines.
„Thanks to the grant, we were able to create artworks at home, and to revive the traditions that are unfortunately forgotten, so that we can leave a rich and beautiful history to our children and grandchildren”, the young man confesses.
In the future, he wants to expand his business, have more employees and optimize his production.
„I plan to organize interactive courses and thematic events for young people and children,” emphasizes Maxim. „That way I will motivate them to chose the field of craftsmanship.”
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The “EU4Moldova: Focal regions” Programme (2019-2024) supports intelligent, inclusive and sustainable social-economic development in the regions of Cahul and Ungheni to ensure better standards of living to citizens. The total value of the grants it has made is approximately EUR 1.7 million across 75 individual grants in the Cahul and Ungheni regions of Moldova.
The programme has a total budget of €23 million, it is funded by the European Union under its EU4Business initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
