The Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity has developed a project financed by European funds, worth 4 million euros, which involves the development of a sales platform to promote social economy products, but also a resource center which will facilitate the activity of social enterprises, according to a post of the institution on its Facebook page.
„Romania has a long tradition in the social economy, from the development of handicraft products in cooperative associations and up to the enterprises specially dedicated to people with disabilities. The Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity has developed a project financed by European funds within the “Education and training” program worth 4 million euros for the development of the social economy. The project involves the development of a sales platform that will facilitate the promotion of social economy products, but also a resource center that will facilitate the activity of social enterprises, MMSS representatives note.
According to them, the social economy is a sector in full development in Romania. In mid-February, the Minister of Labour, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, signed, in Liege, the European Union’s road map for the social economy. The document establishes the role that member states have to develop not only profitable, but also inclusive and sustainable enterprises.
“I want the social economy to develop and we are creating programs at the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity to encourage this sector. I want at least one percentage point of Romania’s GDP to be given by the activities carried out by social enterprises, said the minister.
Simona Bucura Oprescu recently participated in the European Social Economy Conference “Entreprising for Tomorrow!” which took place in the city of Iași. The minister also saw the products made by the social economy enterprises that were exhibited in Iași and discussed with the entrepreneurs whose main goal is not to make a profit, but to develop activities that bring social benefits.
„I saw, in Iași, a remarkable model of good practices for the social economy. From travel agencies who do an amazing job despite being in a wheelchair, to people from vulnerable backgrounds who work in coffee roasters. And because the social economy means responsibility towards people and towards the environment, coffee bags are used to create beautiful clothing items, she said.
Publisher: AC
