BRINGING EUROPE HOME// Mihai Curjos from Cahul used European funds to start unique business in region

Mihai Curjos is a beekeeper from Cahul. In February 2022, he started his own business, Bee Pro Ltd. His company runs a beeswax processing workshop and its core activity is the production of wax sheets for systematized beekeeping. This is the first workshop in Cahul region to offer such products and services. Mihai gave up his career as an engineer to dedicate himself to beekeeping.

Mihai Curjos received a grant worth 23,677 euros under the EU4Moldova: Focal Regions, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF. With the money from the grant and his own contribution, Mihai has purchased several machines needed in the wax processing, from the raw material to the packaging of natural wax sheets.

These complex machines allow for efficient and sustainable use of the raw material without leaving any residues, and the little waste that remains from this process is used as fertilizer.

Mihai Curjos' workshop also produces decorative candles of different shapes and sizes. As of February 2022, his enterprise has created several jobs, processed about 7 tons of wax, and in the future he plans to expand the business.

In addition to this business, Mihai Curjos' family also owns a beekeeper's shop in the village of Larga Noua and a beekeepers' shop in Cahul municipality.

Nowadays, his experience also allows the beekeeper to develop educational activities, participating as a speaker at specialized seminars on wax production.

For his part, Mihai says that people's trust is the most valuable thing and is the basis of a thriving business.

Mihai Curjos: We do our work with a lot of dedication and every customer review is important to us. This gives us confidence that we are doing it right and helps us get the best quality finished product.

The EU4Moldova: focal regions program (2019-2024) supports smart, inclusive and sustainable social-economic development in Cahul and Ungheni regions to ensure a better quality of life for citizens. The program has a total budget of €23 million, is funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP and UNICEF.

Reporter- Lilia Grubîi