List of eligible activities within Moldova's Orchard Project extended

Chisinau, 29 November /MOLDPRES/ - The cabinet has approved the ratification of the Agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the extension of the activities eligible within Moldova’s Orchard Project. Thus, the farmers of the branches of horticulture, vine-growing, animal husbandry, aquaculture and fishery production, bee-keeping and the sector of cereal crops will be able to access financing within the project, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.       

Also, following the negotiations, decision-makers ruled to increase the ceiling of the financing from 10 to 15 per cent of the sum of EIB’s loan for the components of laboratories, education, research and food products’ safety.     

„The funds of Moldova’s Orchard project represent a catalyst for the development of the agricultural business and the rural communities. We will build a stronger agro-food chain, given that the project’s resources will be able to be accessed by all farmers, no matter the activity they carry out in the agricultural sector. Our concern is to support the agricultural businesses, to improve together the productivity and quality of the agricultural products,’’ Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea said.      

The implementation of Moldova’s Orchard Project started in 2016 and the financing contract between Moldova’s government and the European Investment Bank had a value of 120 million euros. So far, 92 million euros has been turned to account. The investment activities will be extended till May 2025, in order to turn to good account all resources.