Quarterly Report: USAID Moldova Competitiveness Project, Year 1 Quarter 3 (FY2016 Q3)

The project aimed to enhance the competitiveness of Moldova's wine, tourism, light industry, and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors. Technical activities during this quarter focused on upgrading wine quality and workforce skills in the wine industry. Activity 1 involved upgrading wine quality and training a better workforce, with a focus on improving wine production and quality control. The project also supported the development of the Stauceni Viticulture and Winemaking Excellence Center (SEC), which serves as a hub for wine industry development and innovation. In addition to wine industry activities, the project also focused on tourism development. Activity 5 aimed to improve workforce skills and education standards in the tourism industry, while Activity 6 sought to increase international awareness about Moldova as a tourism destination. The project also supported the development of the Wine of Moldova brand, with a focus on increasing awareness and demand for Moldovan wines. The project's light industry activities focused on developing the ZIPhouse Accelerator and improving skills through education. Activity 1 aimed to reposition Moldova as a full product manufacturing partner and support the internationalization of Moldovan fashion brands on regional markets. The project also supported the consolidation of the Din Inima Umbrella Brand and expanded its domestic market. In the ICT sector, the project focused on adapting university-level ICT education to industry needs. Activity 1 aimed to improve STEM education and promote tech careers at the secondary education level, while Activity 2 linked ICT vocational education and training (VET) with the labor market. The project also developed an entrepreneurial ecosystem for the IT sector and promoted IT solutions for non-IT sectors. Cross-cutting activities supported implementation across all sectors, including workforce and innovation, sector engagement, enhancement, and development, local capacity building, and increasing access to finance. The project's deliverables included reports, training programs, and policy briefs, among others. Quantitative results showed progress towards targets set for the project. The table below presents the project's progress to-date against the targets set. Qualitative results highlighted the project's impact on the wine and tourism industries, light industry, and ICT sector. The project's communication efforts aimed to raise awareness about its activities and results. The project's highlights for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 included the completion of the Wine of Moldova brand equity and awareness campaign, the launch of the ZIPhouse Accelerator, and the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem for the IT sector. The project also supported the government of Moldova in implementing IT industry development policies and supported the Association of IT and Telecommunications Companies (ATIC) in its efforts to promote the IT sector. Overall, the USAID Moldova Competitiveness Project made significant progress in its third quarter, with a focus on upgrading wine quality, improving workforce skills, and promoting the competitiveness of Moldova's industries. The project's results and impact will continue to be monitored and evaluated in the coming quarters.