PHOTO// Thanks to development partners, women from Gagauzia turn households into green and sustainable businesses

On the first day of October, a group of experts and international representatives, including the head of the Norwegian Embassy Office, Kamilla Kolshus, the head of the Development Cooperation Section of the Swedish Embassy, Maria Tropp, and the deputy resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Seher Ariner visited Gagauzia to discover the stories of women transforming local households into sustainable businesses.

The first stop was in Congaz, at Svetlana Regus' household, an entrepreneur producing wholemeal flour. In 2023, with the support of Sweden through UNDP, Svetlana installed a photovoltaic system powering the electric mill in the yard.


“This investment not only reduces electricity costs but also ensures a stable income for the family, especially since her husband uses a wheelchair. The wholemeal flour produced reaches bakeries in Chisinau, and the milling services remain accessible to locals. Svetlana's story illustrates the positive impact of green solutions and directed support toward rural women,” explains UNDP.


The next stop of the visit was in Ceadir-Lunga, at Stefania Ruseva's household. The young entrepreneur turned her passion for Gagauz traditions into a small family business, producing authentic pickles with eco-vegetables grown in her own garden or procured from local farmers.

With support from Sweden and UNDP, Stefania acquired the necessary equipment and, together with her husband, created an ethnographic park, “Hakikat,” where visitors discover local cuisine and culture. Soon, the family will also open an eco-local store to sell their own products and local delicacies. Stefania's story demonstrates how much confidence and resources offered to women matter for rural entrepreneurship development and tradition promotion.

The visit concluded at the Business Incubator in Ceadir-Lunga, founded in 2014 by the municipality and recently expanded by 600 m². Today, the incubator hosts 22 local businesses, creating over 100 jobs in various fields, from sewing and furniture to IT and microgreens. The delegation representatives met with entrepreneurs and the incubator administration, discussing the importance of access to green solutions, support for rural women, and the role of incubators in strengthening the local economy.

The Business Incubator in Ceadir-Lunga is one of the 12 centers supported by the UNDP project “Resilient Communities by Empowering Women,” funded by Sweden and Norway, in partnership with the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development. Plans include infrastructure strengthening, eco-solution implementation, and extending support for women so that communities become more sustainable and resilient to climate change.


“This day in Gagauzia highlighted how investments in people, education, and environmentally friendly technologies can transform traditional households into profitable businesses while contributing to community development and preserving cultural identity,” summarizes UNDP.