REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

CONSULTANCY SUPPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITALIZATION, THROUGH THE SMART REGULATION AND GROWTH OFFICE, TO FACILITATE INVESTMENT & PARTNERSHIPS

World Bank Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Project

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA Sector: General industry and trade sector IDA Credit No. 71740 IBRD Loan No. 94230 Project ID No. P177895 Reference No. MD-CEP-556117-CS-INDV

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Project (MSME) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) encompass support to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Investment Agency (MIA), the Agency of Public Property (APP), ODA, as well as regional and local public authorities, aimed at strengthening investment attraction capacity. The Services will focus on core tasks within specifically designated economic zones, regions, and localized development sites.

The assignment will be implemented in the period July to December 2026 with an estimated level of effort of app. 150 man-days.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is attached to this request for expressions of interest.

The Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness Project now invites eligible individual local consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The qualifications requirements are:

 University degree in economics, business administration, international relations, or a related field.  Minimum 7 years of professional experience in investment promotion, private sector development, business development, or related areas.  Proven experience in working directly with investors, SMEs, or business associations.  Experience in developing investment attraction strategies or managing investor pipelines.  Strong knowledge of Moldova’s economic sectors and regional investment potential.  Experience working with public authorities and development programs.  Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and deliver results under tight deadlines.  Willingness and availability to undertake field visits throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova.  Fluency in Romanian and English. Computer proficiency (MS Office).

The Consultant shall provide relevant references to confirm the experience and qualifications. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the „Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants” method set out in the Procurement Regulations and to be specifically set out in the Request for submission of the technical and financial proposal.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours.

The applications should include a letter of Expression of Interest, CV, and related recommendation letters, if any, together with a copy of CV in MS WORD format.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by June 19, 2026, COBD, indicating the assignment title in subject line.

Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness Project 180, Stefan cel Mare Ave., office 815, MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Tel: + 373 22 296-723

e-mail: piu@mded.gov.md with cc: procurementmgf@gmail.com web: https://uipac.md/   TERMS OF REFERENCE Consultancy support to the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, through the Smart Regulation and Growth Office, to facilitate Investment & Partnerships A. Background & Project description The Government of the Republic of Moldova (GoM) is pursuing a policy agenda to support export-led economic growth. In this regard, an improved business environment is essential to foster sustainable private sector growth. Significant regulatory and institutional weaknesses in the business environment have been identified by the recently conducted Investment Climate Assessment as major obstacles to the private sector’s ability to perform efficiently and grow, and they also negatively affect investor confidence. The presence of cumbersome regulations undermines the competitiveness of private Moldovan enterprises and prevents increased investment by increasing the cost of doing business. In order to sustain the results of the previous programs implemented and to support the continued implementation of reforms to create a more favorable business environment and facilitate export promotion, the Government of the Republic of Moldova has expressed a strong desire for a project that takes a more comprehensive approach to business competitiveness and has therefore negotiated funding from the International Development Association for the cost of implementing the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) Competitiveness Project. The MSME’s project development objectives (PDO) are: (i) to reduce the regulatory burden, increase access to finance, increase the export competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises, and (ii) in case of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, to respond promptly and effectively to it. The project consists of four components: (i) Regulatory reform and Digitization, aiming at reducing the regulatory burden on businesses by further digitalizing G2B services, enhancing and digitizing inspection services, improving interoperability and integrated service delivery for businesses, simplifying the regulatory environment; (ii) Access to Finance, which aims to support the CGF under the Organization for Entrepreneurial Development (ODA) in providing financial guarantees to MSMEs; (iii) MSME Development and Export Competitiveness, focusing on supporting firms through matching grants, export readiness, supplier linkages, and export promotion programs, as well as facilitating the inflow of investments; (iv) Contingency Emergency Response (CERC) - an unfunded contingency component that can be activated in case of a relevant emergency event. B. Background of the assignment Moldova is entering a decisive phase of economic transformation in which accelerating reforms, reducing bureaucracy, and improving the quality and predictability of the business environment are essential to raising productivity, investment, and ultimately - GDP growth and people’s wellbeing. To translate reform commitments into measurable results in competitiveness, administrative efficiency, and ease of doing business, the Government requires a single, disciplined “orchestrator” that aligns regulation, delivery discipline, and growth priorities across institutions and ensures consistent follow-through. Accordingly, the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MDED) is establishing the Smart Regulation and Growth Office (SRGO) as a coordination and performance unit, mandated to drive coherent policy direction across ministries and agencies, measure institutional performance through KPIs, and ensure follow-through and support on reforms and high-impact projects. The World Bank financed MSME Project will support the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MDED) to establish and operationalize the Smart Regulation and Growth Office (SRGO) as its smart regulation and economic growth delivery unit to help MDED deploy economic growth above the baseline GDP growth scenario for the following 3 years (baseline real GDP growth rates of 1.5%, 1.8%, and 2.0% per year, respectively, subject to official macro assumptions). The SRGO is established with a clear mandate, high-skill delivery capacity, and fit-for-purpose tools to monitor, report, and follow up on institutional performance, to help government institutions implement prioritized reforms more consistently and at higher speed and quality. This will reduce regulatory and administrative burdens, improve the predictability and efficiency of public services, and strengthen the enabling environment for private sector investment and expansion. Boosting regional SME development is a priority of the Government - as set out under Government Decision No. 260/2025 approving the Reform Agenda related to the Moldova Growth Plan for 2025–2027 and as a core instrument of the Economic Development Strategy. These frameworks aim to strengthen regional competitiveness, enhance regional public authorities (LPAs), improve SME productivity, attract long-term investment in value-added manufacturing and industrial services, including, inter alia, through industrial platforms and other high-impact reforms. The Government seeks to apply a systemic, internationally informed approach that uses industrial infrastructure as a strategic lever for balanced regional development, supports green and digital transformation, reduces overconcentration in the capital, and integrates Moldova more deeply into European and global value chains. In practice, many LPAs lack structured investment promotion strategies, clear value propositions for target sectors, and coordinated engagement mechanisms with domestic, diaspora, and foreign investors. Without a proactive investment attraction function, the risk remains that newly developed infrastructure will not achieve the expected occupancy and economic impact levels. Within this framework, the Government is seeking the support from the MSME Project in hiring and financing an investment attraction expert (the “Consultant”) for the SRGO, Invest Moldova Agency (MIA) and the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA) to provide specialized support in investment attraction, partnership development, and investor pipeline management for the LPAs’ investment needs. C. Objectives of the Assignment The main objective of the Consultant is to support SRGO, Investment Agency (MIA), Agency of Public Property (APP), ODA, regional and local public authorities in strengthening the investment attraction capacity, focusing on the core tasks within specifically identified economic zones, regions, and localized development sites. D. Tasks to be performed by the Consultant (Scope of the Work) The Consultant will work in direct coordination with the SRGO team, in cooperation with MIA, Agency of Public Property (APP), ODA, regional and local public authorities, focusing on the following core tasks: • Mapping Site-Specific Assets and Priority Development Domains: Conduct a granular assessment of localized assets within the targeted regions and development zones including raw inputs, workforce availability, vocational education alignment, logistics, and road/access infrastructure to define the smart specialization and commercial potential of each specific location. • Defining and Profiling Targeted Businesses: Develop data-driven investor and business profiles globally based on the specific asset mapping of the designated zones. Establish objective criteria for identifying and filtering prospective companies (e.g., sector, size, supply chain integration, and resource alignment) matching the profile of each location. • Securing Anchor Investors and Local Residents: Map, identify, and engage potential businesses (local, diaspora, regional, and foreign), with a direct focus on securing anchor tenants and manufacturing/service SMEs to establish operations within the targeted economic zones and regional hubs. • Developing Site-Specific Value Propositions and Regional Branding: Formulate structured, asset-backed value propositions and targeted commercial offers for designated zones, incorporating infrastructure details, logistical advantages, and localized branding to attract prospective SMEs. • Operationalizing the Investor Pipeline: Design and implement a structured management framework to track the business engagement pipeline, coordinate site scoping visits, facilitate localized technical tours, and execute standardized follow-up protocols. • Providing Investor Onboarding and Aftercare Services: Deliver direct operational support to incoming businesses during the setup phase within the designated locations, addressing regulatory or infrastructural bottlenecks, and managing aftercare mechanisms to ensure long-term retention and expansion. • Executing Targeted Outreach and B2B Engagement: Organize and execute targeted business-to-business (B2B) outreach, localized investment matchmaking events, and direct investor meetings in coordination with national investment promotion bodies and regional stakeholders. • Facilitating Technical Negotiations and Public-Private Collaboration: Provide expert advisory support during technical negotiations with prospective SMEs and facilitate public-private dialogue to align local infrastructure development with the operational requirements of incoming businesses. • Contributing to National Reform Milestones: Align all localized investment attraction activities with the performance indicators and targets established under Government Decision No. 260/2025 approving the Reform Agenda related to the Moldova Growth Plan for 2025–2027. • Strengthening Institutional Coordination Frameworks: Provide actionable advisory support to MEDD, MIA, and ODA to institutionalize coordinated investment attraction mechanisms, ensuring the integration of regional SMEs located within the targeted zones into Global Value Chains. The Consultant shall undertake regular field missions throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova to ensure direct on-site technical assessment, hands-on problem-solving, and continuous engagement with potential investors and businesses, local public authorities, Regional Development Agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

E. Reporting Arrangements / Terms of Payment The Consultant will submit monthly reports, which will state activities performed by the Consultant according to the TOR, during the appropriate month, the time spent on each activity. The Consultant will attach to the monthly time sheets, the materials developed as he/she carried out the activities. The Consultant shall coordinate the reports/deliverables with the MEDD and head of SRGO. The payments will be made by the PIU based on the reports approved by the MDED’ assigned person. All deliverables will be provided in electronic form and in hard copies. The language of the deliverables shall be Romanian. F. Period of the Assignment The assignment requires a full-time involvement and will be implemented in the period from July to December 31, 2026 with an estimated level of effort of app. 150 man-days. The contract can be extended beyond this term, subject to the MEDD’s needs and Consultant’ satisfactory performance. G. Requirements for the assignment The implementation of this assignment will require services of an individual local consultant with relevant expertise in the field of the assignment, who has experience in providing similar or like services, and who has: • University degree in economics, business administration, international relations, or a related field. • Minimum 7 years of professional experience in investment promotion, private sector development, business development, or related areas. • Proven experience in working directly with investors, SMEs, or business associations. • Experience in developing investment attraction strategies or managing investor pipelines. • Strong knowledge of Moldova’s economic sectors and regional investment potential. • Experience working with public authorities and development programs. • Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and deliver results under tight deadlines. • Willingness and availability to undertake field visits throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova. • Fluency in Romanian and English. Computer proficiency (MS Office). H. Terms of payment The Contract will be the standard World Bank time-based contract. Given the need to undertake field visits, the contract will include also the reimbursable costs component.