The Launching Conference for the BSB project „Increase trading and modernization of the beekeeping and connected sectors in the Black Sea Basin” was held in Cahul, Moldova on 11 June, 2019. The conference was organized by the project partner from Republic of Moldova – Cahul Business Centre. This event was a part of the communication activities of the project ITM BEE-BSB (BSB 136), funded under the Joint Operational Programme “Black Sea Basin 2014-2020.

The conference was open to the general public and was attended by representatives from Government and Local Public Authorities from Cahul District, representatives from mass-media, beekeepers, business environment and project’s partners from Association Tehnopol of Galati – Romania, Varna Economic Development Agency – Bulgaria, Eastern Black Sea Development Agency – Turkey, Mykolaiv Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ukraine.

The conference aim was to present project’s overall and specific objectives, expected results and outputs. Thus, the welcome addresses were followed by a message from Mr. Laurențiu Drașovean (Project Manager of the lead partner organization Association Technopol Galati – Romania) to present what are the goals, expectations and the next steps in project development. There were also messages given by the other project partners from Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine. Mr. Anatolie Nebunu – (Representative of Cahul Business Centre), have made a PowerPoint presentation on Moldova and Cahul region economic development and potential, including the state of art of apicultural sector and local beekeeping along with a more detailed description of project activities and planned events.

The conference ended with a question and answers session, in which local honey producers raised issues related to government support for the beekeepers and the challenges in apicultural sector in Moldova.