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CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CVs)
FULL-TIME ASSIGNMNET
(CONSULTANT SERVICES)
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Sector: General industry and trade sector
Project ID Number: P144103
Expression of interest: CEP-II/B/CS-33/1-IC-25
The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the International Development Association and the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for implementation of the Second Competitiveness
Enhancement Project (CEP II). The project's development objective is to increase the export competitiveness of
Moldovan enterprises and decrease the regulatory burden they face. This PDO will be achieved through a set of
measures that aim to: (i) improve the business environment through regulatory reforms that reduce the cost of doing
business; (ii) help SMEs and exporters to get access to business development services; and (iii) improve access to
medium and long term finance for export oriented enterprises.
The project consists of the following components:
Component 1: Regulatory Reform
The objective of the Regulatory Reform component is to support Government of Moldova (GoM) in improving the
business enabling environment in Moldova, and specifically in implementing its regulatory reform strategies over the
next five years.
Component 2: Small and Medium Enterprise Development
The objective of the SME Development component is to strengthen Moldovan SMEs’ linkages to markets and ability
to compete in those markets through:
a) Sub-component 2A. Strengthening the institutional capacity of ODIMM and MIEPO, so that they can play a
more effective role in facilitating market-based SME growth and
b) Sub-component 2B. Providing matching grants to SMEs to implement business improvement projects focused
on export competitiveness.
Component 3: Access to Finance
The objective of the Access to Finance component is to improve access to medium and long-term finance for exportoriented enterprises, reduce barriers to finance due to perceived high credit risk in SME finance and high collateral
requirements, and promote suitable models for value chain financing.
Context of investment attraction and export development in Moldova
In accordance with its development agenda, the Government wants to steer the economy towards export-oriented
production activities and better exploit the country’s potential as a natural transit point between the East and West.
Foreign direct investments (FDI), in most cases are the owners of new technologies, play a pivotal role in successful
export-led growth. From this derives one of the major objective for national economic policies – improvement of the
country’s attractiveness for FDI.
FDI can be instrumental in achieving the economic paradigm shift towards productive investments, articulated as well
in the Moldova 2020 strategy. It can contribute to the required competitiveness boost by developing skills and
infrastructure, as well as opening new markets for Moldovan goods and services. In its transition towards a market
economy, the Republic of Moldova has opened up to foreign direct investment, but has so far attracted a rather limited
amount of it. More FDI would be beneficial to the country by contributing to the expansion of the economic base and
to growth that relies less on remittances. A more diversified economy would contribute to a broader tax base, which
would help to finance the country’s needs in different areas of social and economic life. Several strategies, to boost
investment and export development, were adopted, including the new Strategy for investment attraction and export
promotion 2016-2020, which is in its last stage of preparation.
Moldova need to stimulate investment to achieve a satisfactory rate of economic growth. Free Economic Zones (FEZ)
are the means to attract investment, especially foreign investments as they provide an opportunity for displaying the
ability and enterprise of the country’s work force to attract FDI in the country.
Development of FEZs would have an important positive impact on fostering investment attraction, exports and foreign
exchange earnings, transfer of technology, acquisition and upgrading of management skills and the enhancement of
linkages with the country’s economy. The nature of linkages between activities in the zones and those in the local
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economy is one of the most important key issues. The more extensive the linkages are, the more likely the zones can
generate longer term benefits for both foreign investors and Government.
Within this framework, the Government of Moldova is seeking the services of an experienced consultant, to support
the Ministry of Economy to attract potential residents into the existing industrial parks and free economic zones and
enhance the linkages between FEZs firms and local economy.
Objectives of the assignment
The primary objective of the Consultant is support the Ministry of Economy with the implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of the “Strategy of investment attraction and export development”.
The secondary objective of the Consultant is to assist the Investment Policy and Competitiveness Department from
MoE as well as IPs and FEZs Administrators with attracting investment projects aiming to develop the IPs and FEZs
and enhancement the linkages between FEZs firms and local economy.
Main Responsibilities
To achieve the assignment’s objectives, the Consultant shall perform the following tasks:
1. Supporting MoE with the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Strategy of investment
attraction and export promotion;
2. Supporting and facilitating necessary dialogue between MoE, line ministries, other public bodies, inter alia
MIEPO, investment attraction team under the Prime-minister office, donors and civil society, aiming the
coordination of the activities according to the national priorities;
3. Assist the Investment Policy and Competitiveness Department from MoE, the IP’s and FEZ’s Administrators
in designing new projects, attract financial and technical assistance from various donors aiming to develop the
IP and FEZ;
4. Assist the FEZ’s Administrators and residents in searching for suppliers from among local producers and
facilitate establishment of the links between FEZs firms and local economy;
5. Assess the current situation and provide recommendations to ensure technology transfer “spillover” effects from
FEZs firms to local companies;
6. Provide recommendations for establishing collaborative relationships between investment projects in the zones
and firms and research institutions in the local economy to encourage business networks and clusters between
zone investments and outside zone investments and thus increase transfers of know-how and management skills
to the local economy;
7. Partner with MIEPO in supporting FEZ and IP Administrators to improve their Investor Servicing (competitive
Webpages, promo materials, technical information, improve their presentations skills, etc.);
8. Provide support to the MoE to organize workshops, seminars, trainings in the designated segments.
This assignment will require an individual local Consultant, who has:
 University degree in economics, international business, MBA, finance, etc, postgraduate studies will be an
asset;
 Minimum of 8 years of experience in providing advisory services and analytical work to public authorities
and/or private sector in Moldova/or abroad;
 Good knowledge of the economic sectors of Moldova, including knowledge about the investment climate
and export development;
 Knowledge about Moldovan economic sectors’ needs in terms of enhancing competitiveness;
 Good knowledge of the economic sectors of Moldova, including experience with FDI attraction, reflected
by having a minimum of four years of practical experience in similar projects related to investment
attraction;
 Proven experience in projects’ design, development and implementation, attraction of financial and
technical assistance from donors will be an asset;
 Experience in development of analytical reports and policy recommendations, including in the field of
investment attraction, retention and competitiveness;
 Strong communication and teamwork skills;
 Fluency in Romanian and English and proven ability to develop documents in English;
 Computer proficiency (Windows, MS Office, Internet Explorer)..
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The Project Implementation Unit of the Competitiveness Enhancement Project now invites eligible individual local
consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide information
indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (CV, copy of the diploma, description of similar assignments,
copy of the certificate(s) confirming trainings attended, etc.). This Call for Expression of Interest will lead to the
preparation of a Short List of consultants. For evaluation of the expressions of interest the following criteria will be
applied:
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Criteria
Academic background and professional qualification
Good knowledge of the economic sectors of Moldova, free economic zones and
industrial parks, including knowledge about their needs, reflected by having a
minimum of four years of practical experience in working on related matters
Experience in development of analytical reports and policy recommendations,
including in the field of investment attraction and retention and competitiveness
Proven experience in projects’ design, development and implementation, firsthand experience with attraction of financial and technical assistance from
donors’ organizations
Experience in managerial or project management positions, including
capabilities reflected by previous experience relevant to the assignment
Points
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25
25
30
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A consultant will be selected as an Individual Consultant in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s
Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, published in January 2011.
The assignment will be implemented in the period from May – December 2016, with a trial period for the first three
months.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to17:00 hours
(Chisinau time).
Expressions of interest must be delivered on paper to the address below or electronically by e-mail by April 21 , 2016,
17-00 (Chisinau time).
Project Implementation Unit of the Competitiveness Enhancement Project; 180, Stefan cel Mare ave., office 815,
MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel: + 373 22 296-723; e-mail: [email protected]
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