On Friday evening in Chisinau took place the Gala of the Moldovan Businessmen Association, an already traditional annual event for the business community in our country. There were about 1,200 guests - entrepreneurs and investors, political figures and government officials who shared the opportunity to make the 2018 totals and discuss new projects for the coming year.

At the opening of the gala, MBA president Vlad Plahotniuc, the main host of the meeting, conveyed to those present a message of confidence and optimism for the future. 

"2018 year was a good year for business, for business - maybe the best year in the last 10 years. However, my belief is that 2019 can and must be better than this year", said Vlad Plahotniuc.

The MBA president has called for continued collaboration between government and private firms, arguing that the business environment also has a stake in the future of the country, namely "stability, continued economic development, new business facilities".

The MBA president assured the representatives of the companies that they will be helped and wished them success in business further.

Speaking on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Prime Minister Pavel Filip stressed the government's efforts and reforms to ensure a better business environment, to win the companies, the citizens and the state.

"Together with you we have succeeded in making these reforms, as today people in the Republic of Moldova feel the benefits - on the one hand, those who represent the business environment, on the other hand people who need a salary and a pension", said Prime Minister Filip.

The prime minister recalled the good economic results of Moldova in recent years and thanked the business environment for the collaboration with the Government, but also the MBA for supporting the dialogue of the state institutions with the companies.

Speaking at the gala, Andrian Candu, Parliament Speaker, remembered the time spent as MBA's general manager, pointing out that he subsequently followed the evolution of the Association and appreciated its work.

"I am very glad to see MBA how much it has developed over these years. It is a very good platform where government and the business community can communicate and find solutions", said Andrian Candu.

Speaker of the Parliament also addressed the businessmen, thanking them for their activity and saying: "Without the entrepreneurs and without your courage, there would be no Moldovan economy. Businessmen are the engine of this economy".

With an opening message from the Government came also the Minister of Economy and Infrastructure, Chiril Gaburici, who said that comes from the business environment and knows how important it is to communicate between private companies and the Government.

At the same time, Minister Chiril Gaburici briefly presented a number of measures taken this year for the business environment, emphasizing also that public investments such as the Good Roads Program for Moldova also help to develop the business environment.

On behalf of Moldovan businessmen, MBA Gala, Andrei Jicol, an IT entrepreneur, Oleg Baban, representative of the industrial sector, and Mihail Usatii, President of the Transporters Association of Moldova, sent messages. The three businessmen have stressed that the business environment in our country has changed greatly in the past two years, and the government and the state help companies to progress and trust them to implement new investment projects. 

Following these speeches, the festive moment of handing over the diplomas to the winners of the fourth edition of MBA grants to young entrepreneurs followed. Each of the 10 winners received a prize of 50,000 lei for the development of their own business, congratulations to the MBA team, as well as the audience applause.

Speaking to all 10 awarding grantees, young entrepreneurs Ecaterina Papanaga and Tatiana Crismariuc, who have a small business for the production of newborn clothes, thanked for the MBA's support.

"We make us closer to you, to the talented people of the Republic of Moldova, which is a dream of ours. Thank you all!", said Tatiana Crismariuc.

The MBA Gala this year also included the presentation of new members of the Association, coming from various fields - agriculture and food industry, tourism and hotel business, construction, automotive components, IT, marketing, health services, drug distribution, textiles, Transport.

Alexandru Baltag, General Manager of MBA, declared after the end of the gala that he is satisfied with this event, which was a successful one, and this time also has an exceptional presence.

"The Moldovan Businessmen Association is still a trusted partner, appreciated by both the business environment and the representatives of public institutions. We will continue to be with the private companies in Moldova and we will help to improve the business climate at attracting investments, the efforts of all entrepreneurs to develop their business. A better business environment means a growing economy, it means better for all citizens", said Alexandru Baltag.