Quarterly Report No. 06: October – December 2012

06: October – December 2012. The report highlights the progress of various industries in Moldova, including the IT, textile, wine, fashion accessories, home furnishings, and tourism sectors. The IT industry has made significant strides in strengthening QLab capacity, adapting ICT education to industry needs, and promoting entrepreneurship culture. The IT Summit was organized, and activities were undertaken to enhance the competitiveness of the IT industry. Capacity building for the Association of Telecommunications and Information Technology (ATIC) was also conducted. In the textile industry, efforts were made to build stronger and more recognized apparel brands, strengthen design skills, and improve merchandising and retail marketing. Support was provided to participate in raw materials and accessories exhibitions, and assistance was given to increase export. Productivity was increased to enhance competitiveness, and APIUS was assisted in consolidating its activities. The wine industry saw support for continued legal reforms and increased awareness about Moldovan wine and enhanced sales. Activities were undertaken to promote the wine industry and increase its competitiveness. In the fashion accessories industry, small companies' visibility was enhanced through assistance in developing company websites, and support was provided for brand development and rebranding. Product design and construction capabilities were improved, and enterprises were assisted to visit and exhibit in specialized international shows. The home furnishings industry received assistance in establishing a furniture shopping center, supporting the furniture manufacturers association, and organizing trainings for furniture retailers. Enterprise marketing skills were improved, and Moldovan-made furniture was promoted in the domestic market. The tourism industry saw improvement in tourism attraction, new product development, and rebranding and promotion of the Moldova Wine Festival. Online profiles were improved, and websites were developed to promote Moldovan tourism. Familiarization tours were organized for foreign tour operators and journalists, and visitors' surveys were conducted. Cross-cutting activities included facilitating the acceleration of a "credit market" within target industries and supporting access to finance through special channels. Deliverables were provided in the form of reports, presentations, and other materials. Quantitative results show significant progress in various industries. In the IT industry, 2,500 farmers received training in sustainable agriculture techniques, and demonstration plots showed yield improvements of 60% when applying recommended practices. In the textile industry, 15 communities benefited from demonstration plots, and 2,500 farmers received training in sustainable agriculture techniques. In the wine industry, 27% of households showed an increase in income among program participants compared to the control group.