Republic of Moldova

The Conditions of Creation and Development of Enterprise: Gender Analysis

Chişinău, 24 December 2009 – The share of women entrepreneurs (hired managers and business co-owners) is 27, 5% of the total number of entrepreneurs in Moldova. Respectively, the number of men entrepreneurs is 2.6 times higher than the number of women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs more often manage/own micro enterprises and their share in this group of enterprises is of 79, 4%, while the proportion of men is 67,8%. Also, the bigger is the size of the business, the higher is the proportion of men entrepreneurs. Both, at the stage of enterprises establishment, and at the stage of business development, women experience more obstacles in terms of access to sources of financing.

These are just a few findings resulted from the statistical survey carried out for the first time by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the basis of the Annual Structural Survey in Enterprises, in the framework of the project "Strengthening the National Statistical System" joint initiative of UNDP , UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNICEF and the NBS, with financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

"The purpose of the study "The Conditions of Creation and Development of Enterprise: Gender Analysis" was to reflect the features of the Moldovan entrepreneurs (their distribution by sex, age, education level, area and development regions) and to analyse the enterprises profile and conditions of their development. Also, the conditions of enterprise establishment, the status of enterprises and issues faced by them in 2008, as well as entrepreneurs’ expectations for 2009, have been described. Most data were analyzed through gender perspective", says Nina Cesnocova, head of Demographic Statistics Section, gender focal point within the NBS.

According to Elena Aculai, Doctor of Economics, author of the study, the research results can be used for the development of policies to support the entrepreneurship, in particular small and medium business, thus contributing to economic growth, self-realization of citizens, insurance of economic stability in the country; development of gender policy within the social (employment, wages, etc.) and demographic policies; justification of protection and lobbying of women’s interests within the functioning of social organizations, particularly women organizations.

"We supported the development of this study with the hope that the analytical interpretation of statistical data would facilitate their accessibility and understanding by data users, both representatives of government institutions, as well as actors of civil society and entrepreneurship in Moldova. By this action the Project, in accordance with its objectives, supports its national partner, the National Bureau of Statistics, in terms of production of new disaggregated (including by gender dimension) data, responding to data users requests (as it is the Ministry of Economy in the given case), but also promotion of statistical products and strengthening the capacities of users to properly apply official statistical data. We hope that practical application of the recommendations of such studies will indeed improve the conditions to ensure equal opportunities for men and women to participate in entrepreneurial activity in Moldova", says Aurelia Spataru, manager of the Joint Project.

The study "The Conditions of Creation and Development of Enterprise: Gender Analysis" was presented today at the round table organized by the National Bureau of Statistics, UNDP and UNIFEM.

The study "The Conditions of Creation and Development of Enterprise: Gender Analysis" (Rom), (Rus),(Eng)

For contact: Aurelia Spataru, Project Manager "Strengthening the National Statistical System", tel. (+373 22) 40.31.42, E-mail: aurelia.spataru@undp.org   

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