Stronger Partnerships between Moldovan and Romanian Local Action Groups consolidated through the EU-LEADER Partnership Fund

Throughout 28 February – 3 March, Moldovan Local Action Groups (LAGs)

“Stâncile Prutului” and “Drumul Gospodarilor” participated in two study visits in Romania, where they have consolidated their partnership with Romanian LAGs from Neamț and Hunedoara districts.

As part of the study visits, the Moldovan LAGs have broadened their experience in sustainable eco-tourism and shared best practices in implementing local projects that contribute to the social-economic development of their communities. During the study visits, the Moldovan LAGs visited selected touristic attractions located on the territory of the Romanian LAGs and participated in an exchange of ideas on rural development opportunities.

The LEADER Partnership Fund is an initiative of the National LEADER Network, in partnership with Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, under the EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme, that aims to foster good neighbouring relations and exchange of experience among Moldovan European

Union (EU) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) LAGs, implementing the LEADER approach, in order to support the social-economic development of the Republic of Moldova and to promote European values in the context of Moldova’s EU candidate status.

As part of the 2nd edition of the LEADER Partnership Fund launched in 2022, Moldovan LAGs will conduct a total of 11 study visits to stimulate capacity-building and innovation in rural areas.

The LEADER Partnership Fund is supported within the “EU4Moldova: Local Communities” programme, financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland – Polish aid; and jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL) in Moldova.

The content of this article belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the vision of the above-mentioned partners.

The Digital Impact program, organised by EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul, designated six projects from tourism and agriculture, which will be financed by grants totalling 3.9 million lei. The programme targeted the digitisation of two public institutions, two non-profit organisations and two agricultural companies from the Cahul region, which will be digitised, in order to develop their own activity, but also to bring benefits to the local community in the southern part of the country.

Each of the six projects, selected following a thorough evaluation process, will receive a grant of approximately €40,000. Among the projects that will be financed as a result of participation in the Digital Impact program is the Cahul County Museum, founded on 30 July 1958, which is the largest museum in the south of the country. The institution is going to digitise its museum heritage.

The "Nicolae Botgros" Palace of Culture will also benefit from funding, which will create a common platform for all extracurricular activities carried out in the municipality of Cahul.

The Local Action Group "Lunca Prutului de Jos" will implement a project that consists in developing a platform to promote the Lunca Prutului de Jos destination, with included e-commerce functionality.

Thanks to the grant funding, the Association of Table Grape Producers from the Cahul rayon will launch remote agricultural consulting services for the association's members, and will procure high-performance equipment for monitoring vine plantations.

SRL Svirol-Agro, a company specialised in conservative agriculture, plans to use the funding to optimise agricultural production processes by installing a cloud-based Farm Management System (FMS). In a similar vein, SC SVC INTER SRL intends to create digital wine cellars - a cutting-edge concept aimed at supporting winemakers during the initial stages of wine production.

Apart from the monetary assistance, the winners will receive monitoring and support throughout the execution of their initiatives to ensure that their outcomes have a significant influence on the community members of the area.

Digital Impact is a program realised by Startup Moldova as part of the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project, financed by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by ATIC. The total budget of the program is 7.8 million lei.

The purpose of Digital Impact is to accelerate digital transformation in the public and private sector by funding and directly supporting the testing and development of innovative solutions.

The Cahul region, one of the most visited areas of the country, will be promoted through a new platform - cahul.travel. Here, potential tourists from the country and abroad will be able to find and book a place to stay, but also learn more about how they can spend their vacation in the south of the Republic of Moldova.

The cahul.travel platform was created with the participation of Cahul entrepreneurs, who offer accommodation services. Currently, 12 guesthouses, hotels, tourist complexes, sanatoriums, rest and recreation centres have displayed their offers on the platform. With a few clicks, those who want to discover the southern region of the country can make their vacation plans in advance, booking accommodation for the duration of their stay.

Also here, additional services can be requested, such as sauna, fishing, boat trips, therapeutic baths. Those who prefer active rest can choose to go hiking, ride AT Vs or bikes. Tourists who want to discover the traditions of the place can participate in carpet weaving and reed basket weaving workshops, grape picking, ethno-folkloric programs, they can visit the Bread Museum in the village of Văleni or the Cahul County Museum. At the same time, the region offers an unforgettable culinary experience, with dozens of dishes specific to this area.

The cahul.travel platform includes also a calendar of annual events, referring to 23 festivals and exhibitions, that take place in the Cahul region.

Cahul, Crihana Veche, Văleni, and Slobozia Mare, allowing them to admire the stunning scenery and explore the local museums and historical monuments. Furthermore, visitors can request a personalized route or organised tours.

Among the most popular tourist attractions of the Cahul region is the Lower Prut

Scientific Reserve, which is a protected area registered in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The region is also home to other popular tourist sites, such as the Manta Lake, which is the largest lake in the Republic of Moldova, and the "Văleni Outcrop" – a group of high, scenic hills also known as the "Golden Hills".

The cahul.travel platform was created within the EU4Moldova: Startup City Cahul project, with the support of the European Union and Sweden.