MOLDOVA COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2019 QUARTERLY REPORT 1 YEAR 4 QUARTER 3 (FY2019 Q3) SUBMITTED: JULY 12, 2019 RESUBMITTED: AUGUST 13, 2019 Prime Contractor: Chemonics International Inc. www.chemonics.com/ Partners: J. E. Austin Associates, Inc. www.jeaustin.com Bhavana World Project www.bhavanaworldproject.com Contract No.: AID-117-C-15-00001 PHOTO CAPTION: Students demonstrate the technology they have learned as part of the Future Classroom Pilot to MCP Chief of Party Doina Nistor, Swedish First Secretary Thomas Alveteg, Minister of Education, Culture and Research Monica Babuc, and USAID Mission Director Karen Hilliard at the Future Classroom launch. Credit: COVER PAGE PHOTO CREDIT: Orange Foundation DISCLAIMER This assistance is made possible by the support of the American, Swedish, and British people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Sweden, and UK aid. The contents are the responsibility of the creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the American, Swedish, and UK Governments. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYM LIST ................................................................................................................................................ 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 9 SECTION I ....................................................................................................................................................... 13 PROJECT TECHNICAL INTERVENTIONS DURING FY19 Q3 ............................................................ 13 WINEGROWING INDUSTRY ...................................................................................................................... 13 OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY (BETTER WORKFORCE AND ADOPTED INNOVATION) .............................................................................................................................................. 13 PROGRAM 1. Upgrading quality and driving innovation in viticulture and winemaking ............................ 13 ACTIVITY 1. ASW (Association of Small Winemakers) Mentorship Program - support the emergence and development of small wine producers ........................................................................................................ 13 ACTIVITY 2. ‘PQUP’ Program (Product Quality Upgrading Program): expanding the Wine of Moldova portfolio ....................................................................................................................................................... 16 PROGRAM 2. Building knowledge for future growth .................................................................................. 16 ACTIVITY 1. “Best Grapes” and “FlaveDor” - piloting innovations in vineyard management and grape quality improvement ................................................................................................................................... 18 OBJECTIVE 2. EXPANDED MARKET LINKAGES ............................................................................................. 19 PROGRAM 1. Wine of Moldova international promotion program support ............................................... 19 ACTIVITY 1. Build Wine of Moldova Brand Equity and Foster Business Linkages ........................................ 20 ACTIVITY 2: Export Support Program (ESP): increased wine sales on target markets through firm-level marketing support ....................................................................................................................................... 23 PROGRAM 2. Enhance wine culture and grow a mature local market ....................................................... 23 OBJECTIVE 3: IMPROVED SECTOR-ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASED CAPACITY ........................ 27 PROGRAM 1. Policy upgrading and legal regulatory reforms in the wine industry .................................... 27 ACTIVITY 1. Support ONVV to continue policy, legal and regulatory reforms ............................................. 27 ACTIVITY 2. Finalize the Wine of Moldova 2030 strategy to guide long-term industry competitiveness, and promote in the Government ........................................................................................................................ 28 ACTIVITY 3. Develop and strengthen the PGI wine associations ................................................................. 29 TOURISM INDUSTRY .................................................................................................................................. 31 OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY (BETTER WORKFORCE AND ADOPTED INNOVATION) .............................................................................................................................................. 31 PROGRAM 1. Start-up Tourism Moldova: product development, service quality upgrading and tourism offer diversification ..................................................................................................................................... 31 ACTIVITY 1. Wine-Up: Wine Tourism Accelerator Program ......................................................................... 31 ACTIVITY 2. Hospitality+ Moldova program: improving tourism hospitality infrastructure ........................ 32 ACTIVITY 3. Go-Regional Tourism Start-Up: unveiling the tourism potential of Orheiul Vechi reservation and Purcari region ....................................................................................................................................... 34 OBJECTIVE 2: EXPANDED MARKET LINKAGES ............................................................................................. 35 PROGRAM 2. Tree of Life Marketing Program: unveiling the hidden gems of Moldova to the world ........ 35 ACTIVITY 1. Placing Moldova on the map of world tourism: building brand equity and international awareness of Moldova as a tourism destination ........................................................................................ 35 ACTIVITY 2. Foster business linkages and expand target markets .............................................................. 37 OBJECTIVE 3: IMPROVED SECTOR-ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASED CAPACITY ........................ 37 PROGRAM 3: Re-Think Tourism Moldova. Building a sustainable public-private partnership .................... 37 ACTIVITY 1. Re-think tourism industry: reformed policies and regulation to ensure sustainable development ............................................................................................................................................... 37 ACTIVITY 2. Strengthen private sector voice to balance public-private dialogue ........................................ 37 LIGHT INDUSTRY ........................................................................................................................................ 38 OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY (BETTER WORKFORCE AND ADOPTED INNOVATION) .............................................................................................................................................. 38 PROGRAM 1. Strengthening ZIPhouse as the flagship institution in workforce development and fashion startup acceleration .................................................................................................................................... 38 ACTIVITY 1. Enhance ZIPhouse institutional capacity .................................................................................. 38 ACTIVITY 2. Boost fashion creativity, startups and community building ..................................................... 39 ACTIVITY 3. Develop industry skills through quality advanced technical education and training ............... 41 PROGRAM 2. SMART (Streamline Manufacturing, Accountability, Resource efficiency, and Transparency) Factory program ......................................................................................................................................... 42 ACTIVITY 1. Implement complex innovative methods to streamline manufacturing and productivity growth ......................................................................................................................................................... 42 OBJECTIVE 2: EXPANDED MARKET LINKAGES ............................................................................................. 46 PROGRAM 3. Expanding Market Opportunities .......................................................................................... 46 ACTIVITY 1. Reposition Moldova as a full-product manufacturing partner and support internationalization of Moldovan fashion brands on regional markets ...................................................................................... 46 ACTIVITY 2. Consolidate the Din INIMA Umbrella Brand and Expand Domestic Market ............................ 47 OBJECTIVE 3: IMPROVED SECTOR-ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AND INCREASED CAPACITY ........................ 48 ACTIVITY 1. Assist APIUS to Become a Strong Professional and Industry Association ................................ 48 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND CREATIVE SERVICES ............................... 48 OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY (BETTER WORKFORCE AND ADOPTED INNOVATION) .............................................................................................................................................