Growing turnover, hundreds of jobs and better conditions, new, more competitive products, and greater access to international markets. These are just some of the results achieved by entrepreneurs who, since 2019, have joined forces around value chains and formed clusters, networks that contribute to local development, strengthen partnerships and integrate the Republic of Moldova into foreign markets. 

The advantages of economic specialisation, how clusters have developed in the Republic of Moldova and the expansion of these networks, their role as drivers of competitiveness, as well as financing and sustainability opportunities were discussed at the first National Cluster Forum, which took place on 3 December 2025.

The event was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, with the support of Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It brought together about 150 representatives of clusters from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, the public sector, the business environment, development partners, as well as national and international experts, in an open framework for dialogue, exchange of good practices, and collaboration to accelerate the development of clusters in our country.

Since 2019, UNDP Moldova and its partners, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, have supported the formation and development of 17 clusters. Most of them are in the agri-food sector, but also in emerging sectors such as tourism, textiles, and furniture, contributing to economic diversification and regional development. These initiatives cover more than half of Moldova's districts and also include districts on the left bank of the Nistru River.

"We are more than 15 entrepreneurs in the beekeeping field, who have the necessary equipment and resources to capitalize on the raw material from beehives and diversify the range of products. With the support we will receive from Switzerland and the UNDP, we want to develop innovative products, including apitherapy, which will lead to the creation of a competitive beekeeping industry," said Ștefan Condratiuc, executive director of the Association of Beekeepers, Processors, and Exporters of Beekeeping Products in the Codru region.

At the first edition of the Forum, the Swiss Government and UNDP Moldova announced support for three new micro-regions specializing in: beekeeping (Orhei and Telenești), rural tourism (Ștefan Vodă and Slobozia), and table grape cultivation (Ialoveni and Căușeni). They will receive non-reimbursable financial assistance of at least US$200,000 for the implementation of the strategic objectives set. At the same time, they will benefit from technical assistance to promote exports and expand into foreign markets.

"We would like to thank our development partners for helping us grow together, add value to our products, and reach international markets. You can't do much on your own because of high costs and difficulties in accessing the market. We have some rules that we set from the outset when the cluster was established, and our priority is to be economically sustainable. We need a common voice, a single voice, to represent the interests of all cluster members," says Lucia Ușurelu, president of the Herbafruct Cluster.

In the clusters supported by UNDP and its partners, cumulative turnover is growing steadily, exceeding the 10% threshold in the first few years. Over 300 new jobs have been created, and another 700 have been improved through higher salaries and better working conditions. The internationalization process has accelerated: clusters in the Republic of Moldova have accessed new markets and established over 10 partnerships with relevant organizations in the European Union.

At the same time, cluster ecosystems have become a driver of innovation: over 50 new products and services have been launched, over 20 technological processes have been optimized, and over 15 digital, green, and innovative solutions have already been implemented.

During the forum, participants also expressed their shared interest in creating a national platform to facilitate cooperation between clusters, the exchange of best practices and process standardization, and joint representation in dialogue with public authorities. At the same time, connection to international networks, access to programs, investments, and opportunities will be facilitated. To this end, a working group has been set up to create the National Association of Clusters.

An important aspect of cluster development in the Republic of Moldova is ESCA (European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis) certification, which evaluates their performance. This certification aims to recognize the operational performance of clusters and ensure compliance with European Union standards. To date, with the support of UNDP Moldova, nine clusters in the Republic of Moldova have successfully completed the ECEI Bronze Label "Striving for Cluster Excellence" certification process, reflecting their commitment to performance and excellence.