The 9th edition of the Moldovan-American Convention took place in Chicago, Illinois, USA

More than 300 people from the USA and Canada participated this year, at the 9th edition of the Moldovan-American Convention (Moldovan-American Convention - MAC) with the generic „Proud to be from Moldova”, which took place in Chicago, IL, USA.

The current edition benefited partially from grant funding under the Thematic Grant Program Diaspora Engagement Hub (DEH), implemented by the Diaspora Relations Bureau (BRD).

The event also brought together high-ranking guests from both the Republic of Moldova and the USA, namely, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, the Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, Dumitru Alaiba, the Minister of Culture, Sergiu Prodan, Congressman Mike Lawler ( NY) and Senator Dick Durbin (IL), Assistant Administrator for the Office of Europe and Eurasia, USAID, Erin E. McKee, Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the International Chamber of Commerce, Gabriel Petrus, US Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Kent Logsdon, Ambassador of the Republic Moldova in the USA, Viorel Ursu, representatives of the Diaspora Relations Bureau and the USAID Mission from the Republic of Moldova.

MAC9 served as a good opportunity for the delegation from our country to discuss with members of the diaspora about the mechanisms and tools that the Government offers for the engagement of the diaspora in the transformation process of the Republic of Moldova, as well as about investment opportunities in our country.

Being present at the Convention, the deputy head of the BRD, Violina Donu, spoke about the involvement of the diaspora in the development of the home towns of the Republic of Moldova, referring to the Program Diaspora at Home Succeeds „DAR 1+3”. In this context, Violina Donu noted the interest and openness of the US diaspora to realize their ideas through the grants offered by the BRD. In the current year, within the Program „DAR 1+3”, the implementation of 3 projects with the involvement of the US diaspora is planned. Thus, the Town Hall of Cimișlia intends to implement jointly with our citizens from the American continent, the project „Let's invest in the comfort of our children” through which 110 beds will be purchased for children from 5 kindergartens in the locality, the Town Hall of Chiștelnița village, Telenești, will equip the culture house in the village with furniture and the Town Hall of Nisporeni will carry out the project „Bridges that connect us” which consists in the construction of a portion of the road to the public institutions, the repair of the footbridges, as well as the arrangement of two parking lots for buses and cars.

Another program that the BRD representative spoke about is the Diaspora Engagement Hub (DEH), a grant program that harnesses the potential of the diaspora, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and expertise. In 2023, 4 projects submitted by the representatives of the diaspora from the USA and Canada will receive funding.

„I want to congratulate the organizers and each one of you because you are a wonderful community, very open and friendly, that's why we would like to see you as close to the BRD as possible and more involved in our projects and programs. Thank you for your effort to contribute at home”, concluded Violina Donu.

We specify that the Moldovan-American Convention is a non-governmental, non-profit event, the initiative to organize the event belongs to the Association „Moldova AID” from the USA.